大家好,第一次在CFC发帖子.
I was with Ms. Bu and her family this afternoon. CBC and CTV will be airing a story tonight for the 6pm news. Hopefully we can get more support from across the Ottawa region from kind and warm-hearted people like we have here in the CFC/Chinese-Canadian community.
If you wish to share something on social media in English, please feel free to use the following English translation of this story.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
“I cannot save you anymore”
Canadian man drowns while on vacation in Cuba with his family
March 24, 2014, Ottawa, ON As people return from their March Break vacations, they are met with the grievous news of the death of a Canadian who drowned at a beach resort in Varadero, Cuba.
His name is Yue Liu, who immigrated to Canada from Beijing seeking a better life and opportunities for his family. He moved to Ottawa after having completed a program in Internetworking at Dalhousie University alongside his wife, Ms. Fanyan Bu, who completed her Master of Science in Computer Science at the same school. Like most newcomers, Yue and his wife kept to themselves and worked hard to make ends meet for their family and to create better opportunities for their children who were both born in Halifax. This tragic event leaves behind a widow, two young children, and two elderly parents of the widow who live in Ottawa.
It was on the afternoon of March 19, 2014, a few days into the Liu family’s weeklong getaway in a popular Canadian tourist destination at a Varadero resort. The family was feeling relaxed and enjoying the Caribbean sun. Yue and his son were playing in the ocean waters at a depth of no more than the waist of the 7 year old boy while the mother, Fanyan, and daughter, aged 9, were laying on the beach. All of a sudden, a strong wave overtook the father and son and the ensuing rip current dragged them into the ocean. Yue grabbed on to his son and tried to keep him head-above-water while screaming for help as they floated deeper into the ocean.
Just as Yue was losing all hope, a Canadian man who saw this take place jumped into the waters and took his son from his hands. “I cannot save you anymore,” were Yue’s last words to the 7-year old boy. The unidentified Canadian rescuer took the boy to shore and on his return, he saw that Yue has been dragged much further into the ocean. At this time, the resort’s lifeguard and other Canadian vacationers were able jump in and take Yue back to shore. But all was too late. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful for the father. The boy was lucky to have survived as he was only seconds away from drowning. In a way, it was Yue who traded his life for his son’s survival as he used his last breathes to prevent a further tragedy.
On the advice of the Canadian Consular office, Fanyan Bu, now a widow, took her son and daughter back to Canada, returning to their cold and empty home in Ottawa.
Because Yue was an only-child, he always maintained weekly contact with his elderly parents who live in China. Family members have not yet shared this grave news on fear of the health of the elderly couple.
Yue was a typical IT guy, without many other interests other than spending time with his children and taking care of paying the bills. He was the main engine behind his family, without him, they are lost.
The Consulate office has indicated that the cost of the transportation of Yue to Ottawa for a funeral would cost just over $10,000, plus the actual funeral cost, they are likely looking at upwards of $30,000 in expenses. Without having bought any travel, mortgage, or life insurance, the Liu family is not only dealing with the tragic loss of Yue, but also faces a difficult financial challenge.
The news quickly spread to Fanyan’s neighbours and thereafter throughout the Chinese community of Ottawa. Close friends of the Liu family quickly set up a Fundraising Committee to help raise funds and they are looking for kind hearted residents of Ottawa to lend a hand to help cover costs for the return of Yue to Ottawa and for his funeral.
Over the weekend, the Chinese community has pooled together over $20,000 to the Liu family. This was thanks to the efforts of all the volunteers for spreading the news and to community websites such as comefromchina.com, an online forum, which had
26,000 views on their post about this tragic event within 24 hours.
Donations can be made by cheque to Fanyan Bu and mailed to 1363 Woodroffe Ave, Unit B Box 33074, Ottawa, ON K2C 3Y9, or Paypal and Email donations to
donate2liuyue@gmail.com. A webpage has also been set-up to help raise funds at
http://comefromchina.com/liuyue/.
As well, the Liu family is looking to get in touch with the brave Canadian hero who saved the life of the 7-year old boy. They hope that this news will travel to that hero and other Canadians who came to the rescue of the father. They are deeply touched by the acts of bravery, kindness, generosity, and compassion of those that came to their rescue in Cuba and back at home here in Ottawa.
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Fundraising Committee for Fanyan Bu & Liu Family
English media inquiries can be referred to Andy Wang, 613-986-9264
Chinese media inquiries can be referred to Wenjuan Song, 613-983-8366
