A Maritime woman is back from Cancun, Mexico after she says her vacation turned into a nightmare.

Sam Myers is still nursing a fractured ankle after falling down the stairs while on vacation, but the broken bone turned out to be the least of her concerns.

“There was pound, pound, pound, on my door,” said Myers. “I answered the door and there was two females standing there. Behind the two females were two officers, one in army fatigues with a AK47 on his shoulder, and then the other officer was all in black and it said “police” across his chest.”

Myers was at the Grand Oasis resort in Cancun. The officers and a doctor said they were visiting to collect payment for medical services Myers says she didn't receive.

She says the doctor had been sent to her without her knowledge or request.

Myers says she eventually gave in, paying the doctor nearly $300.

“I paid her, and then I said, ‘I've got like 30 minutes to get to the airport, I've got to go.’ And both officers said, ‘You're not leaving,’” said Myers.

She says they demanded an additional $300 dollars for each of the officers, threatening to throw Myers in jail if she didn't pay.

They did allow her to call the Canadian consulate.

“He said the best advice that I can give you is to pay and get the heck out of Mexico as fast as you can,” she said.

After several hours, Myers gave in. She made it to the airport, but missed her flight.

“I went up to the Sunwing desk and explained the situation and begged and pleaded and they said, ‘I'm sorry you have to buy a new ticket and the next available flight is in eight days,’” said Myers.

In a statement to CTV News, Sunwing Vacations’ senior corporate communications manager says she is sorry to hear of Myers’ distress, but a representative “did assist Ms. Myers and that she “did not have to bear the full cost of a new flight ticket.”

“We are still conducting an investigation and have attempted to contact Ms. Myers accordingly,” said communications manager Rachel Goldrick in a statement.

“The care of our passengers is extremely important to us, and we undertake to ensure our customers’ safety during every stage of their journey.”

After spending a night on the floor of the Cancun airport, Myers says she finally began to wake up from her Mexican nightmare. She met several members of the Canadian Armed Forces who were also in Mexico on vacation. They noticed she was in distress and offered to help.

Sgt. Natalie Suley, her husband, and friends helped arrange a flight back to Toronto for Myers.

They also let her spend the night at their home in Toronto until they could arrange for her to fly back to Halifax.

“Honestly, I don't think it was anything out of the ordinary,” said Sgt. Suley. “All I thought is if it were me I would want someone to trust me.”

Myers says the selfless act in the face of such a traumatic experience has inspired her to also join the ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.