Husband of Toronto mother who died suddenly on run says he lost his 'everything'
The devastated husband of a young Toronto mother who died suddenly while on a run this weekend says he has lost his "everything" and that his life will never be the same.
Jenn Gouveia collapsed and died on Sunday while out for a run in High Park.
"It started as a regular Sunday," her husband, Mitch Darragh, told CTV News Toronto on Thursday.
Darragh said the 38-year-old decided to go for a run, something she did multiple times a week, before they would go over to a friend's house for a barbeque.
Gouveia left and Darragh said he said he became busy around the house, not realizing how long his wife had been gone for.
"My mom was calling me, and I finally answered her, and she told me the police were trying to get a hold of me," Darragh said.
He then received a call from Gouveia’s mother, who told him his wife had collapsed in High Park.
"I immediately thought it was just heat exhaustion," he said. "And then the police called me and told me they were trying to resuscitate her but had no luck."
Gouveia was pronounced dead in hospital and is believed to have died from cardiac arrest, Darrgh said.
He said his wife had no pre-existing health conditions, ate well, didn’t drink, and was overall "completely healthy."
She leaves behind her husband and two daughters, aged six and four.
"She was our everything," Darragh said. "She was the cornerstone of our house. It all just happened so quickly."
Jenn Gouveia collapsed and died on Sunday while out for a run in High Park. (GoFundMe)
Darragh said his wife had just landed her dream job with Lululemon and had signed a contract to be the manager at Sherway Gardens.
"That was literally her endgame, what she wanted since the beginning," he said. "She was at such a good point in her career."
Darragh, who works in the hospitality industry, said his wife supported the family through the pandemic while he took care of the kids.
Friends of Gouveia have organized a GoFundMe page to help support Darragh and the two children financially.
"This devastating loss has taken a severe emotional toll, but also a heavy financial one," her friend's wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Our Jenn was the rock of her family. She ran the show with humour, wit, style, confidence and love.”"
"This financial support will help Mitch and his girls secure their stability, while they navigate this difficult time."
Since being launched one day ago, more than $180,000 of the $500,000 goal has been raised.
"Our whole future plans are ruined," Darragh said through tears.
"This is life altering."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.