Londoners in Mexico in ‘no rush’ to head home amid cartel violence

CTV London’s Lauren Stallone speaks to a London man trapped in Puerto Vallarta amid cartel violence.

A calm Sunday morning in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico quickly turned into chaos.

“There was banging,” recalled Dennis McKaig, a local Londoner staying in Puerto Vallarta. “There were explosions and there was gunfire.”

McKaig recalled the moment he realized something had gone terribly wrong.

“The sky above was black at 9 o’clock in the morning,” said McKaig. “I looked to my left and there were two more cars on fire in the intersection.”

McKaig says he has spent his winters in Mexico for many years but never experienced anything quite like this.

“People started running and when people start running, I start running,” said McKaig. “There’s two guys on a motorcycle waving a gun and shooting.”

McKaig says his apartment is located just a couple minutes down the road from where many of the explosions took place.

“When the last car exploded, I could feel the heat on my balcony,” said McKaig. “That’s how hot it was.”

While shaken up, McKaig says he doesn’t plan to return home to London anytime soon.

“I’m enjoying my time down here with caution,” said McKaig.

20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, residents in Mezcales were trying to remain positive.

“Sometimes you have to change your mindset,” said Becky Bechard, a Chatham-Kent native spending the winter in Mezcales. “Here we are in the pool laughing meanwhile outside that gate is complete and utter chaos.”

Bechard says while surprised, nothing will change the way she feels about the place she calls her second home.

“I love these people,” said Bechard. “I love these people and they absolutely love Canadians.”