WINNIPEG — Three children are fighting to bring their parents home after they were killed in an ambulance collision on vacation in Cuba.
Veronika Mayer had just finished an exam at the University of Manitoba last week, when a Winnipeg police officer called her, and delivered the tragic message about her parents Rósza and János Boda.
“Basically he just told me what happened, and that they passed away in Cuba. I was just like ‘is this a joke?’” said Mayer
The family said Rósza was experiencing chest pains on her vacation in Cayo Coco last Thursday, and was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance. On the way, the ambulance crashed, and killed both Rósza and János.
“This stuff happens in movies, it doesn’t happen to you,” said Mayer.
Rósza was an elementary school teacher in Carman, Manitoba, and János worked for Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation. They leave behind three children, Veronika, Bettina, and Martin, and one soon-to-be son-in-law William Rutherford.
“My dad, he was always able to make me laugh,” said Battina Boda, while tearing up.
Right now the family is fundraising to bring the bodies of Rósza and János home to arrange funeral services.
“It’s been an absolute nightmare, there’s a lot of complexities to this situation,” said Zoltan Csupak, János’ cousin. The family hopes the bodies will arrive in two weeks, and will plan a funeral after that.
Bettina and Martin are still in high school and are being looked after by Csupak, their legal guardian, and their sister Veronika.
A fundraising page has been set up for anyone looking to help the family.