A family from Southern California is urgently trying to bring their father home after he fell into a coma during a trip to Mexico.
Manuel Contreras, 47, a father of three from Victorville, is known for his love of travel and spending time with his family. He recently flew to Cancun to visit a childhood friend. During the trip, he suffered a minor stroke, which was followed by a more severe stroke two days later.
He was rushed to the hospital, where he remains in a coma and in critical condition.
“My dad, he’s probably the most hard-working, most active person I know,” Manuel’s son, Gabriel Contreras, told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. “He was going to be gone for a week, and it was just to spend time with his friend.”
Manuel’s children were notified of their father’s hospitalization on May 30.
“I believe he collapsed and luckily, there was someone there to be of assistance,” Contreras said. “Once the ambulance came to assist my dad to the hospital, his friend was able to meet him there.”
Since then, Manuel’s children said they’ve been met with one heartbreaking challenge after another.
Manuel Contreras (second from left) is seen with his three children. (Contreras Family) 
Manuel Contreras is seen with his son in a family photo. 
Manuel Contreras is seen with his daughter in a family photo. 
Ralene and Gabriel Contreras speak to KTLA’s Shelby Nelson on June 4, 2025. (KTLA) 
Manuel Contreras (on left) is seen with his three children. (Contreras Family) 
Manuel Contreras is seen with his son in a family photo. 
Manuel Contreras is seen with his son in a family photo.
Manuel is currently on Medi-Cal in the United States. The hospital in Mexico that could properly treat his condition would not accept his insurance, so he was transferred to a general hospital instead.
“At the general hospital, they don’t have the adequate funding or equipment to treat him there, so they’re just putting him into an induced coma and hoping his body heals,” said Ralene Contreras, Manuel’s daughter.
His family is now desperately working to bring him back to the U.S. to receive proper medical care, but the cost of transporting him from abroad is extremely high and beyond what they could ever afford.
“Flying him to Houston will cost about $30,000 to get him just into the States to get treated,” Ralene said.
Loved ones have set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising money to bring Manuel back to California. They’ve also sought help from their local congressman, Jay Obernolte.
“We are in contact with the family and have just received authorization to begin working with the U.S. Embassy and the State Department on their behalf,” a spokesperson for Rep. Obernolte told KTLA on Wednesday.
In addition to the stroke, loved ones said Manuel is also suffering from a respiratory infection. With time running out, his children said they are trying to stay hopeful that their father could recover, but are also desperate to bring him back home.
“He’s always by his phone because just in case his kids call, he always wants to be the first one there to help them,” Ralene said tearfully. “I feel helpless knowing that if I call his phone, he’s not going to answer.”
“We don’t want to think about the worst,” Gabriel said. “We want to think about the best possible outcome. We know my dad is a very strong man.”
A raffle fundraiser will also be held at Bombshells Bar & Grill in Victorville on Friday, June 6, at 6:00 p.m., featuring raffle prizes.
