Cuba apologizes to Canada for delivering wrong body to grieving Montreal family

Cuba apologized to Canada on Wednesday after authorities accidentally delivered the remains of another man to a Canadian family grieving the loss of a loved one who died while vacationing on the Caribbean island in March.

Faraj Jarjour, a Canadian citizen of Syrian descent, died in the Varadero beach resort town two hours east of Havana on March 22.

Weeks later, his family was shocked to find the body of a tattooed man many years younger in the casket delivered from Cuba to a funeral home near Montreal.

The funeral was supposed to take place on Monday.

The body delivered looked nothing like their father, the family said. The identity of the body delivered was not clear.

Cuba's Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on social media Wednesday that he had spoken with his Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly about the "unfortunate incident."

"Cuban authorities [are] investigating to clarify the incident," Rodriguez said. "I conveyed heartfelt condolences and apologies to relatives and friends of the deceased."

Jarjour's family continues to await the delivery of their father's body from Cuba, now more than a month since his passing.

Daughter Miriam Jarjour told The Canadian Press that her family was refunded the $10,000 paid to repatriate her father's remains. Global Affairs Canada said the Cuban government had agreed to refund the cost. 

Cuba's state-run media has not reported on details surrounding the accidental delivery.

The island remains a popular destination among Canadians despite a grinding economic crisis that has led to shortfalls in food, fuel and medicine.

Joly confirmed she had spoken with Rodriguez and said Canadian officials were working with Cuba to resolve the mix-up over Jarjour's body.

"We share the utmost concern for the unimaginable situation his family faces," Joly said on social media.