Alberta man allegedly beaten at Mexican resort returns home on life support
Thu May 10, 2:42 AM
By Dean Bennett
EDMONTON (CP) - A medivac flight brought an Alberta man on life support home late Wednesday night, just days after he suffered what his family described as a brutal beating on the grounds of a Mexican resort.
An ambulance and RCMP escort was waiting to take Jeff Toews, 33, of Grande Prairie, Alta., off to an Edmonton hospital, where his family was to make a difficult decision on organ donation.
Sister-in-law Colleen Toews said Jeff would be reassessed by doctors at the University of Alberta hospital to confirm the diagnosis of Mexican doctors, who had declared him brain-dead.
Ground crews at the Edmonton International Airport guided the private jet into an enclosed hangar to give the family - including wife, Natalie, and his brother Murray - sanctuary from preying eyes when the flight landed at 10:15 p.m. MT.
Jeff was on vacation in Cancun with his wife and nine other couples from northern Alberta when he was injured after visiting a nightclub on the resort grounds Sunday night.
His family doesn't believe Mexican authorities who say the Canadian fell from the second floor of his hotel. The family says his head and back injuries came from a severe beating, maybe at the hands of hotel security guards.
They are also accusing Mexican authorities of covering up a crime.
It's the latest in a string of violent incidents involving Canadian tourists in Mexico.
Last February, Domenic and Nancy Ianiero of Woodbridge, Ont., were found with their throats slit at a resort near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Their murders have never been solved.
In January, Adam DePrisco, 19, also of Woodbridge, was killed outside an Acapulco nightclub. A Mexican doctor blamed the teen's death on a hit-and-run driver, but his family and friends believe he was beaten to death.
And last month, two Canadians were injured when a gunman fired into the lobby of a hotel in Acapulco.
The latest controversy reached Ottawa on Wednesday, when Liberal Foreign Affairs critic Ujjal Dosanjh called on the government to strike a co-operative agreement with Mexico on investigations involving Canadians.
The MP said the United States sends investigators to Mexico to assist in investigations involving that country's citizens and Canada should do the same.
"I can tell you that we were planning a family vacation in the next several of months and Cancun was one of the places we were thinking of, but I can tell you I ain't going there," added Dosanjh.
Back in Jeff Toews' home town, people who knew the father of a three-year-old boy were in shock.
"It's horrible," said Jerry Lojczyc, manager of Beaverlodge Motor Inn where Jeff and his three brothers often stopped by for lunch.
"The Toews are a well-known and well-liked family here and we're sharing their pain, if that is possible," he told the Grande Prairie Herald-Tribune.
Many could not digest the possibility he had been beaten.
"You hear all these stories, and you just have a hard time believing ... because he's not confrontational at all, by no means," said Fraser Berg, who has known the family for the better part of two decades.
Troy Blais, who played hockey with Toews, described him as a jokester.
"Very fun, very outgoing ... would do anything for a teammate."
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said the provincial government is aware of the situation.
"We are monitoring the situation and I know the provincial solicitor general has made some enquiries," said Stelmach, who added he's visited Mexico several times. _________________ kyranŠ
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