Mom detained in Cuba allowed to return home for son’s funeral, friend says
Posted February 6, 2014 1:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Justine Davis will be allowed to return to Toronto to attend her son’s funeral, according to a close friend of the family.
Davis had been held in Cuba since she and her three-year-old son Cameron were involved in a scooter crash on Dec. 23, 2013.
Cameron was killed in the crash and authorities were keeping Davis until the investigation was complete.
Davis’ stepsister Amber Hussey said Thursday that Davis had been granted release but did not say why. Hussey thanked reporters for bringing public attention to Davis’ situation.
“We cannot thank you enough for your overwhelming support in helping us to secure her release by bringing visibility to her plight. We are absolutely overjoyed by her pending return, but it is coupled with the deep sadness and grief that Cameron will not be hand-in-hand with her as well,” Hussey said.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The crash happened more than six weeks ago near a Cayo Largo resort. Davis told CityNews they were offered the scooter after returning a rental jeep early.
Both were wearing helmets at the time and Davis said everything seemed perfectly safe, with Cameron seated in front of her.
Just minutes into their ride they collided with an industrial sized truck on an unpaved patch of a two-lane road. Both were thrown from the scooter.
Cameron died at the scene and Davis was rushed to hospital in Havana.
On Wednesday, Davis was doubtful she would be allowed to return in time for the Saturday funeral.
“(The Canadian Embassy said) it could be months, years, they don’t know,” she explained from her hospital bed.
“And they don’t really have an influence or an opinion about the length of time or how the process works. It seems like they are just as in the dark as I am.”
“The hospital has told me many times that my injuries aren’t keeping me from travelling. It’s the immigration hold due to the legal circumstances.”