Sister of Gold Coast cosmetic surgery 'victim' vows justice
The sister of a Gold Coast woman who died after a simple cosmetic procedure has vowed to stay in Mexico until the surgeons take responsibility for their alleged malpractice.
Eva Sarmonikas was on holiday with her boyfriend in Mexicali when she underwent 'simple cosmetic surgery' on March 20.
She died later that day after reportedly going into cardiac arrest.
At the time, her devastated family told media outlets they could not work out how the happy, healthy 29-year-old died so suddenly.
Her sister, Andrea Sarmonikas, released a statement saying legal procedures had begun against the surgeon who performed liposuction and buttock "lipoinjerto" on March 20.
Ms Sarmonikas said: "Contrary to what was ruled by the doctor of the Attorney General of the State of Baja California, the second autopsy determined that my sister was perforated on more than four occasions in the right lung, causing a hemorrhage that led to the death. Evita did not die from a pulmonary embolism nonthrombotic as we were first advised.”
She called on Mexican authorities and human rights organisations to join the fight for justice.
“There is nothing we can do to make Evita's life returned to us. I will never be able to fill the huge gap that is left in the heart of my mother, in the heart of our community and also in mine. But we can, and we will, work our hardest to ensure Evita's death is not in vain."
A fundraising page has been set up on Facebook to try and cover the costs of sending Ms Sarmonikas family to Mexico.
Morning news break – June 9
