Coming to terms with the sudden death of his cousin, Prashant Dhanji Revar, has been difficult for Rakesh Pravin Gohil, but he is shouldering the responsibility to get the 44-year-old home to India.
Revar was found unresponsive last Wednesday in a car parked outside a business on Bodden Town Road. He was transported to hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
His death remains under police investigation.
Gohil, in a telephone interview with the Cayman Compass on Tuesday, has said he, together with friends of his cousin, who was known affectionately as Shaun, have started a GoFundMe page in Revar’s honour to help get his remains to Mumbai and support his ailing wife and mother.
“He has two sons. They are in Mumbai, India, and he has a wife; unfortunately, she’s suffering with some kidney issues right now and his mother also has cancer, so he was the only one who used to make money for his family,” said Gohil, who lives in Cayman.
Cremation to be performed locally
Gohil said it was too expensive to ship his body back so Revar’s family in India has authorised him to organise the 44-year-old’s cremation.
He said the funds raised through the GoFundMe page will help to send his cousin’s remains home and provide for his children.
Gohil said he is so grateful to the Indians in Cayman as well as the wider community for the support they have given after Revar’s death.
“I am really appreciative of them… Rocky’s Diamond [Gallery] and so many people… I’m very thankful for the start of the GoFundMe online,” he added.
Gohil said it has not been an easy time since his cousin’s death and just Tuesday, 18 Oct., he visited the funeral home to see Revar.
“It was like he was sleeping; I touched his face, his hair,” Gohil sobbed, adding, “I just want to say … come back… if he can come back.”
He said they grew up practically like brothers; when Revar was 8, his father passed away and he came to live with Gohil’s family.
“We used to live in the same room,” he said.
Gohil said, though he has one son, he will now take on the responsibility of Revar’s two sons, Vihaan Prashant Revar, 10, and Moksh Prashant Revar, 7, to help with their studies where he can.
“It was his dream to give them a good education. It was his goal for them study in Canada or UK, Oxford University. That is why he was working so hard. I’m on my [career] growth right now and… I wish I can take care of them both. I have my son also, but I have three now. I’m also here for him. He’s still with me. I feel that he’s with me,” Gohil said.
He said his cousin worked hard studying English as well as hotel management at the Mumbai Dadar Catering College to get ahead in life.
“He did so many things. He did good things in life,” Gohil reflected, adding that Revar worked as a head butler for almost 10 years at Celebrity Cruises.
“He had a good position,” he said.
Gohil said Revar often travelled back and forth between Cayman and India and had only returned six months ago after visiting his home country.
His most recent job was at Cayman Cabana and he had previously worked at The Ritz-Carlton, Gohil said.
Revar, he said, loved his job and working in the hospitality industry.
Cayman family heartbroken
Luigi Moxam, Cayman Cabana owner, described the situation as “heartbreaking”.
“My apologies, I don’t know what to say at the moment other than, as his extended Cayman family, we are truly heartbroken and our condolences with a lot of love go out to his kids, wife and mother in particular back in India. Although Shaun has not been employed with Cabana since September, I personally have maintained a lot of love and appreciation for him over the several years on and off that he has been a part of our Cabana team,” he said.
Moxam said Revar was “our best customer service representative”.
“He was also appreciated by many guests over the years and always had the most raving positive reviews. He’s really going to be missed. I was off island at the time and had actually texted him that morning to check on him, only to learn a couple hours later of his passing,” he said.
Moxam said the entire team at Cabana was devastated by the news, and they had closed the restaurant the following day.
“It’s only been a couple days since returning on island to process everything… We will meet with our staff for first time [Wednesday],” he added.
He said the Cabana team is exploring how they can best assist his family and friends at this time.
“There is a GoFundMe page where his family has invited our community to contribute. I’ve invited his family and friends to meet with me this week to discuss how we can best celebrate him and further support efforts for his respectful repatriation,” Moxam added.
The local Indian Cayman Community group, which is also assisting with Revar’s funeral, is accepting funds for his family which can be sent to the Indian Cayman Community Butterfield Bank KYD account 136-176993-0014.
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