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After being attacked in Panama in late October while traveling, the couple from Gatineau, Que., now needs time to recover from the physical and psychological trauma.
“I think it’s good to be with friends, with family, but at the same time, my heart is there. Somewhere else,” said Geneviève Plouffe, who returned home a month ago with her partner Martin Audet.
They were in the middle of a multi-year trip through South and Central America.
“The plan wasn’t to come (home). The plan was just to travel and live life. But I don’t know how I feel.”
Plouffe and Audette were in their parked bus, which they had converted into a mobile home, near the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal on October 28 when gunmen opened fire and rammed the vehicle.
The men dragged Audet out and beat him with a hammer and the butt of a gun, Plouffe said.
Others entered the bus and demanded money, threatening Plouffe’s life.
Geneviève Plouffe says she and her husband Martin Audette were in a parked bus on October 28 when a group of gunmen opened fire on the vehicle and forced their way inside.
“I still have some pain, like my sternum and ribs still hurt. I have scars all over the back of my head,” Audette said.
“The recovery process was what it was. It’s like I just got beat up — like, really beat up.”
The couple said they know the mental recovery will be a long process. Since the attack, they struggle with memories and anxiety.
“You feel anger, you feel sadness, you feel a lot of emotions … joy, pain and sadness about what happened,” Audette said.
“But that’s part of life. We all know life isn’t always great, with different chapters and different obstacles to go through. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
The way to justice
Without insurance, the couple says they paid $40,000 to $50,000 in hospital and legal costs.
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 officers 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 the hope that their case would be heard.
Radio-Canada reached out to police authorities in Panama but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Plouffe said a few weeks ago that police had identified two suspects. The couple said news from local authorities was rare.
Audette hopes to bring the attackers, as well as the owner of the property where they were parked, to justice through the Panamanian justice system.
“Before we left Panama, we hired that lawyer … and the last thing I told him before we left was that somebody has to pay, and it’s not going to be me.”
He 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.
“Having (a) psychological examination in Quebec is very difficult. So in El Salvador, it was very quick, very easy,” Plouffe said.
The couple said they also found comfort in the support of family and friends.
“The lovers are a crazy, amazing community. They’re very kind and they help us a lot,” Plouffe said. – We are very happy to be part of that beautiful family.
They plan to stay in Canada for a few more weeks before returning to El Salvador, primarily for medical, psychological and psychiatric support. Warmer weather is also a factor, Plouffe said.
The couple also plans to one day travel back to Panama to pick up their bus, which is in need of extensive repairs.
