Gold Coast woman mysteriously dies in Mexico
The family of a Gold Coast woman who died in mysterious circumstances in a Mexican hospital are desperately trying to work out how she died.
Eva Sarmonikas was on holiday with her boyfriend when was underwent 'simple cosmetic surgery' on March 20.
She died later that day after reportedly going into cardiac arrest.
Her devastated family is now trying to work out how the happy, healthy 29-year-old died so suddenly.
They say their daughter signed a waiver that means the hospital is not liable for her death and can send her body back to Australia in the form of ashes.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has reportedly advised Ms Sarmonika’s family to travel urgently to Mexico and organise an independent autopsy.
"The Australian Embassy has been clear on not allowing her body to leave Mexicali, or allowing her little body to be cremated before an independent autopsy and external opinion is sought," the family said in a statement on Facebook.
"The only medical team to conduct an autopsy was the very hospital that lost her.
"Eva was a beautiful, young, healthy woman and the surgery was a simple procedure with minimal risks," the statement continued.
"Australian medical advice has been that even in the case of cardiac arrest a healthy young body can often be brought back to life when surrounded by a fully equipped hospital and a competent medical team."
A fundraising page has been set up on Facebook to try and cover the costs of sending Ms Sarmonikas family to Mexico.
The former Gold Coast Hope student did not have travel insurance, which means her relatives are facing a bill of more than $20, 000 to bring her body back home to Australia.
They are expected to make an appeal to the media on Tuesday morning.
Details of how to donate to the Sarmonikas family can be found here.
News break – March 23
