CALGARY — As a Calgary woman hospitalized after she was badly beaten at a five-star Mexico resort suffered a surgery delay due to pneumonia, the governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa promised a sweeping probe into what happened.
Sheila Nabb, 37, was on vacation with her husband, Andrew, at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Emerald Bay resort. She was found badly beaten inside a hotel elevator early last Friday and had suffered serious injuries to her face.
She had been expected to undergo facial reconstructive surgery Wednesday or Thursday. However, family members said she has contracted pneumonia, a condition common with a tracheotomy — a hole made in the windpipe to ease breathing. She has been sedated again and now is expected to have the surgery later this week.
Governor Mario Lopez Valdez said Mexican officials are reaching out to the Nabb family, but called such incidents "unfortunate and isolated."
Lopez Valdez released a statement Wednesday that said local officials are in "close contact" with Nabb and her family and are providing them with support.
"The government reiterates that safety and security are top priorities for tourists and citizens alike and that this was an unfortunate and isolated event," he said, noting Mexico hotels and resorts adhere to the "strictest of security standards."
He did not repeat claims made earlier to Mexican media in which he said authorities are looking into "domestic violence" in the case.
Andrew Nabb was questioned and released by local authorities early on in the investigation and is not considered a suspect, said Paul Giles, Sheila Nabb's brother, in an e-mail.
"They are the most loving couple that I know and anyone that knows them would agree," Giles said.
Giles also questioned the appropriate translation from Spanish of "domestic," suggesting it can also be translated as "within a country" rather than family related.
The governor has expressed concerns to Mexico media the incident could hamper tourism.
He said surveillance cameras at the resort could provide some clues but investigators are hoping to speak with Nabb.
The official statement released Wednesday said investigators are collaborating with Canadian authorities to keep them informed as the case advances.
The news comes as Canadians have stepped forward with reports of previous attacks at the five-star Hotel Riu Emerald Bay.
One B.C. resident who stayed at the hotel in November, 2009, said an intruder climbed on the balcony of the 12th floor room where he and his wife were sleeping.
"In the middle of the night my wife woke me up and said 'There's a guy on the balcony,'" said George, who asked his last name not be published. "I went into attack mode."
George said he "started whaling" on the intruder, who pleaded in Spanish for him to stop, then dragged the man to the hotel hallway and called security. He said he received no co-operation pursuing the incident with staff and has not returned to the resort.
An Ontario couple, meanwhile, told CBC News about an attack last spring at Hotel Riu Emerald Bay.
Scott Giddy, on holiday at the resort with his wife Sarah, was struck over the head outside a restaurant. He spent 10 days in hospital.
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