German tourist shot in head in Canada recovering from surgery

OTTAWA: A German tourist who was shot in the head while driving in western Canada was recovering in hospital from surgery on Friday, police said.

Meanwhile a manhunt for the shooter, described by police as a Caucasian male with long dark hair driving a small black sedan, has expanded. And authorities are asking for a possible witness in a passing RV ( recreational vehicle) to contact them.

The 60-year-old German man was travelling with his family along a highway about 60 kilometres west of Calgary, Alberta en route to Banff National Park just before noon local time on Thursday when he was shot.

This caused his truck to swerve into a ditch and hit a tree.

The man was airlifted to a Calgary hospital and underwent surgery to remove the bullet that penetrated his skull.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Laurel Scott told AFP he is “in critical but stable condition.”

Three members of his family with him were treated for minor injuries sustained in the crash.

Germany’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it was ‘ aware of the incident.’

It said the victim “is not in danger of death” while adding that it has reached out to offer support to his relatives.

Canadian police suspect this was “an aggravated road rage incident” involving the small back sedan that passed the victim’s truck on the twolane road as the shot rang out.