Aussie traveller Evita Sarmonikas dies during ‘simple’ operation in Mexico

AN AUSTRALIAN woman has mysteriously died during a “simple” operation in a Mexico hospital. Her family wants answers.

Supplied Editorial 24032015_Evita_Nicole_Sarmonikas_credit_Facebook

THE family of an Australian woman who died mysteriously while holidaying in Mexico is desperately trying to work out what happened.

Evita Nicole Sarmonikas, 29, was in Mexicali, near the US border, with her boyfriend when she went to hospital for “simple cosmetic surgery” on Friday March 20, her family said.

The Gold Coast woman died the same day, after apparently suffering a heart attack.

On a Facebook page dedicated to Sarmonikas’ memory, her devastated family said they were trying to work out how the previously happy, healthy woman died.

The Department of Foreign Affairs advised the family to travel urgently to Mexico and organise an independent autopsy, they said.

“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,” they wrote on Facebook.

On holiday ... Evita was travelling in Mexico with her boyfriend. Picture: Facebook

“The only medical team to conduct an autopsy was the very hospital that lost her.

“Evita was a beautiful, young, healthy woman and the surgery was a simple procedure with minimal risks.

“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.”

The family was frantically trying to raise funds to cover the cost of repatriating the body, as well as travel and legal expenses.

“To simply bring (Evita’s) body home the costs run up to $20,000 and without an insurance policy to fund and direct the logistics we have a daunting journey ahead of us,” the family wrote on Facebook.

“What is making this most difficult is that Evita did not have travel insurance and we were never prepared for a situation of this magnitude.

Perfection ... Evita’s family warned other women not to risk death for cosmetic surgery. Picture: Facebook

“Unfortunately our government has advised they cannot practically assist us with financial, legal, or medical assistance, nor have we been able to find or access agencies or organisations equipped to assist in situations of this gravity.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

The family also appealed to other women not to “risk death to improve on perfection”.

“Don’t listen to a world that is hungry to fill your insecurities with poison. Stop feeding an industry that hates humans, especially women in the natural state and their perfect birth bodies,” they wrote on Facebook.

“Do it for Eva, do it for you.”