Winnipeggers return home following cartel violence in Mexico

Winnipeg travellers in Puerto Vallarta amid an outbreak of violence have returned home.

Winnipeggers returning home on a flight from Puerto Vallarta are detailing what they witnessed.

The flight arrived at the Winnipeg airport on Tuesday evening following days of chaos in the resort community amid cartel violence.

Helen Parry and David Moore, who just finished a three and a half week trip to Mexico, said they realized something was wrong on Sunday morning after watching the gold medal men’s hockey game at a bar.

The couple said they saw people checking their phones and leaving the beaches before hearing a loud bang.

“We got back to our condo, and we went to our rooftop around the pool and just saw explosion after explosion in the distance,” Parry said.

Moore noted they have some friends who are still stuck in Mexico and can’t get back home until Sunday.

The couple said this is nothing like they’ve ever experienced.

“Puerto Vallarta airport was insane today,” Parry said. “Lots of flights going out and lots of people there.”

Cheryl Thomas also arrived back in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. She described the last few days in Mexico as “frightening.”

“We didn’t know what was going to be happening. We didn’t know whether we’d be able to get out of there,” she said.

“But we were assured by the Mexican people that everything was going to be okay and to just stay safe indoors and that it would pass.”

Thomas said she heard two explosions, adding that they both sounded far away as she was about 25 minutes from Puerto Vallarta.

She recommends that if any travellers find themselves in a similar situation, they should listen to the locals.

“They know best about their own country,” she said.

“Stay safe. Don’t go out. Just follow the rules that they’re asking you to do.”

As of Tuesday evening, more than 61,000 Canadians in Mexico registered with the Global Affairs Canada registration system. Global Affairs said this offers a general estimate of Canadians in the region, as registration is voluntary.

• With files from CTV’s Joseph Bernacki, Tim Salzen and The Canadian Press