12-year-old Montreal-area Ukrainian evacuee dies

WARNING: This story talks about suicide.

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A tragedy for a Ukrainian family living in the Montreal area after 12-year-old Ukrainian evacuee Mykhailo Fedorenko has died.

The young boy fled the war in Ukraine last year with his family, came to Canada and moved to his aunt and uncle’s home in Vaudreuil-Dorion, west of Montreal.

On Feb. 23, his family found him lifeless.

“My nephew tragically took away his life, or we’ll never really know the whole circumstances, whether it be accidental or willingly,” said Mykhailo’s uncle André Rossin-Arthiat. “For me, it’s just tragic.”

The family is now fundraising to give Mykhailo a proper burial in Ukraine.

“You question yourself, why did this happen here? They’re supposed to have a good life here. They had. And then, unfortunately, this kind of thing happens,” added Rossin-Arthiat.

Provincial police say they’re not investigating it and do not suspect any foul play, calling Mykhailo’s death a suicide. The family is awaiting results of an autopsy to determine what exactly happened.

The Quebec Coroner’s office confirms “an investigation is currently underway to shed light on this death. […] The Coroner will prepare a detailed report [on] the causes and circumstances leading to the death. […] They may also make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.”

“I come from the emergency response field and kind of know how to recognize these things, I didn’t see anything,” said Rossin-Arthiat. “He’s been a happy kid there. My wife and my sister-in-law and his own brother haven’t seen any changes.”

“They were laughing every day, they were going to school every day. My nephews were adapting to new Canadian life,” Rossin-Arthiat said. “It’s just I think everybody who comes from Ukraine, whether it be a volunteer or a refugee, you go through certain things that most people will never experience in their life.”

Rossin-Arthiat was the one who helped his nephew and their family escape Ukraine last year and went back a second time to offer humanitarian aid through the use of drones. His upcoming third trip was planned before his nephew’s death.

The uncle says he’s unsure if mental health played a role.

RELATED: Quebec emergency response veteran heads back to Ukraine to help

“Possible PTSD, which is normal,” he said. “Even me, when I came back from Ukraine both times, I’ve suffered through that and I’m treating it. It doesn’t make you dysfunctional, it just makes you that you’re mentally injured from those scenes.”

While he never treated Mykhailo, a child psychologist acknowledges the trauma associated with war.

“Not knowing the specifics of this particular case, I will just say that being aware of what children are faced with these days in terms of just increased anxiety and depression, you feel for this child and this family,” said Dr. Yaniv Elharrar, the co-director of the West Island Therapy and Wellness Centre.

“This child is also a child who came from war and the traumas and the unspeakable horrors that the child potentially had seen may have impacted as well.”

Transition to his new life in Canada may also have affected the young boy, suggests Elharrar.

“To be in a situation where you have to learn a new language, make new friends, adapt to a new society, a new culture, that’s not easy,” he added.

Mykhailo’s family will be transferring his body and returning to Ukraine.

“That’s probably going to affect them as well, not only because of the death of my nephew, but also because of going back to a war torn country,” said  Rossin-Arthiat, who adds Mykhailo’s death is more collateral damage of the war raging on.

“It just shows that this senseless war is taking lives of Ukrainians, in Ukraine and in Canada, unfortunately.”