From the tropical hellhole of the Manus Island detention centre, to snowy Canada, a refugee in limbo for four years has found a backdoor to start a new life.
Iranian man Amir Taghinia flew from Papua New Guinea last Thursday to Coquitlam, Canada.
The 24-year-old was one of the 600-odd men barricaded inside the mothballed detention centre since it closed on Tuesday, too scared they'll be attacked by locals if they move to alternative accommodation on the island. They're running out of water, medication and food.
Australian citizen Wayne Taylor, his wife Linda Taylor and a group of Coquitlam residents have rallied to support Mr Taghinia's resettlement under Canada's private sponsorship scheme.
The Taylors' daughter Chelsea met Mr Taghinia during her time as a healthcare worker on Manus Island.
The family spent the past 22 months working with the Canadian and Australian governments to allow the resettlement.
Mr Taghinia is still in disbelief.
"My soul is on Manus Island," he told AAP on the phone from Canada.
"As long as there are people there I can't really rest, I can't have a feeling of relief. I need every single one of those guys off the island."
File image of refugees and asylum seekers holding up banners during a protest at the Manus Island immigration detention centre in Papua New Guinea. Source: AAP
Mr Taghinia said it would take a while for the psychological and physical trauma of the past few years to heal.
He's had some problems with abdominal bleeding from stress.
He plans to study to become a human rights lawyer and wants to help contribute to Canadian society to thank the country for giving him a go.
Mr Taghinia is in awe of the Taylor family for the lengths they have taken to help him.
Since his arrival in Canada, he's felt immense guilt when he's caught himself experiencing brief moments of joy.
"Even small moments when I was about to feel good, a few seconds later it came to my mind - the guys on Manus - they don't have water, they don't have food, they are dying there," he said.
Mr Taghinia urged the Australian government to take up New Zealand's refugee resettlement offer of 150 people.
AAP understands two other refugees who were detained on Nauru have found resettlement in Canada under a family reunion scheme.
The Canadian government under Justin Trudeau has allowed more than 40,000 Syrian refugees to resettle since November 2015.
Almost 15,000 have been privately sponsored by individuals and groups for up to a year and then they must find work to support themselves.
