After being attacked in Panama in late October while traveling, a couple from Gatineau, Que., is now taking time off to recover from the physical and mental trauma.
“I think it's good to be with friends, with family, but at the same time, my heart is there. It's somewhere else,” said Genevieve Plouffe, who returned home a month ago with her friend Martin Audet.
They were in the middle of a year-long road trip across South and Central America.
“The plan was not to come home (home). The plan was just to travel and live life. But I don't know how I feel.”
Plouffe and Audette were inside their parked bus, which they had converted into a mobile home near the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal on October 28 when the assailants opened fire and entered the vehicle.
The men dragged Audette outside and beat her with a hammer and the butt of a gun, Plouffe said.
Others entered the bus and demanded money, threatening Ploof's life.
Genevieve Plouffe says she and her husband Martin Audet were inside a parked bus on October 28 when a group of armed assailants opened fire on the vehicle and entered.
“I still have some pains, like my sternum still hurts and my ribs. I have scars on the back of my head,” Audet said.
“That's what the recovery process was. It's like, I just got beat up — like, really beat up.”
The couple said they know it will be a long process to mentally recover. After the attack, they struggle with flashbacks and anxiety.
“You feel anger, you feel sadness, you feel a lot of emotions … joy, pain and sadness for what happened,” Audet said.
“But that's part of life. We all know life isn't always great, there are different chapters and different obstacles to overcome. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.”
The path of justice
Without insurance, the couple says they spent $40,000 to $50,000 in hospital and legal fees.
In a written response, Global Affairs Canada confirmed it was aware of the incident involving the two Canadians but declined to comment due to privacy concerns. Canadian consular officials in Panama are in contact with local authorities and are providing assistance.
On the advice of the Canadian Embassy in Panama, the couple hired a lawyer in hopes of getting their case heard.
Radio-Canada reached out to Panamanian police officials but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Plouffe said that a few weeks ago, two suspects were identified by police. Updates from local authorities are rare, the couple said.
Audet hopes the attackers will be held accountable through the Panamanian justice system and the owner of the property where they are parked will be caught.
“Before leaving Paama, we hired this lawyer … and the last thing I said to him before we left was, somebody's got to pay, and it's not going to be me.”
Plans to return to El Salvador
Before returning to Canada, the couple sought help from a psychologist in El Salvador who specialized in post-traumatic stress disorder.
“In Quebec (to get a) psychiatric appointment, it's very difficult. So in El Salvador, it was very quick, very easy,” Ploof said.
The couple said they also found solace in the support of family and friends.
“Van-lifers are a crazy, wonderful community. They're so kind, and they help us so much,” Plouffe said. “We are so happy to be a part of that beautiful family.”
They plan to stay in Canada for a few weeks before returning to El Salvador, mainly for medical, psychological and psychiatric help. Hot weather is also a factor, Plouffe said.
The couple also plans to return to Panama one day to retrieve their bus, which needs extensive repairs.
