British woman shot dead and her partner killed when gunmen break into their home in Mexico

The incident took place in the Playa del Carmen resort on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Photo: Pola Damonte/Getty Images

A Briton was seriously injured in Mexico after armed robbers who broke into her jungle ranch shot and killed her partner.

The 32-year-old immigrant was taken airlifted to hospital with gunshot wounds after she and her boyfriend were confronted by burglars at their home on the Riviera Maya in the resort of Playa del Carmen.

Her partner was shot dead in a property believed to be owned by the couple in Lázaro Cárdenas, one of the 11 municipalities that make up the state of Quintana Roo.

The State Attorney's Office confirmed it was investigating the shooting, which took place early Friday morning .< /p>

The spokesman said: «The Public Prosecutor's Office of Quintana Roo launched an investigation into an incident that took place early Friday morning when two foreigners were attacked with a gun in the jungle of the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas.»

A Foreign Office spokesman said: «We are providing consular assistance to a British woman hospitalized in Mexico and are in contact with local authorities.»

Circumstances unclear

Circumstances of ranch shooting remain unclear, but local media reported that up to six intruders broke into the property before the couple challenged them.

At some point after the shootings, the police received an emergency call for help.

The shooting comes amid growing concern that Mexico is in the grip of an escalating crime cartel violence. The US State Department issued a series of travel ban warnings for some of Mexico's 31 states.

The Briton was locally named Sophie Wiggins. Her partner's name was Martin Arthur Schmidt, a Polish citizen who studied in Germany and worked as a «transformation coach».

The couple with these names created a strong social media presence while living in Mexico.

Ms. Wiggins describes herself as a personal trainer. In an Instagram post, she reveals how she left her hometown of Bristol in 2018 after the death of her mother and moved to Germany before moving back to Mexico with her partner and dog Leo.

Last October she wrote: “Yesterday my friends was my last day at this club [where she worked as a personal trainer]. Since my stepfather passed away earlier this year, there is nothing holding me back in Germany.

“In order to develop and grow as a person, I move on and decided to celebrate the New Year. with my favorite partner and Leo in a completely different environment.

“A new chapter is on the way. Mexico, I'm coming!»

Gangster turf wars sweep tourist areas

Bloody turf wars between rival gangs have spilled over into tourist areas with a spate of murders. Gang fights, often over drugs, have taken a toll on the country's tourism trade, which accounts for about eight percent of Mexico's GDP.

In March last year, British businessman Chris Cleave, 54, was gunned down in front of his daughter Chloe, 14, as he drove out of the gated community in Playa del Carmen where he lived, less than an hour south of Cancun in his red Audi.

Real estate agent, originally from Truro. in Cornwall, before he was killed, he received death threats and is believed to have been targeted for resisting extortion attempts by the cartel.

Two men, an 18-year-old and a 30-year-old — the old ones, who fled the scene of the murder on a motorcycle after Mr Cleve was shot dead at close range in traffic, have been arrested. sea ​​and is often considered one of the safest areas in Mexico. However, the region includes the city of Cancun, where a beach fight between rival gangs caused vacationers to flee to the hideout in 2021.