The family of a 69-year-old man recovering from a gunshot wound in Mexico wants the Canadian government to pay for a chartered flight to bring him home.
A stray bullet pierced the leg of Mike Di Lorenzo in Mazatlan, as gunmen opened fire on a motorcyclist. Di Lorenzo, of Penticton, B.C., was walking through a marketplace with his wife at the time.
Mexican doctors have given Di Lorenzo several blood transfusions, but his body has rejected most or all of them -- Di Lorenzo has a rare blood type.
"I understand that I need more blood," he told CTV News by phone. "I lost lots of blood."
If Di Lorenzo can't get the right blood type, it could jeopardize his life. His daughters have found a donor in B.C. and want Ottawa to transport Di Lorenzo on a chartered plane, but the government is offering a commercial flight.
"They're going to be putting him on a commercial flight and giving him two seats so he can prop his leg up. I don't know. I mean, is that acceptable?" said daughter Kathy Di Lorenzo.
The daughters also say the Canadian government isn't doing enough to keep them informed about Di Lorenzo's condition.
Conservative MP Stockwell Day, who represents Di Lorenzo's riding, says consular staff are on top of the situation.
"I have talked directly with Mr. Di Lorenzo in his hospital room. I have talked with all the family members," he said.
With a report by CTV's Rob Brown in Vancouver
