Nelson Rand, a Canadian-born reporter with the France 24 television network, talks with CBC's Michel Cormier from a hospital in Bangkok on Saturday. (CBC)

The parents of a Calgary journalist who was shot and wounded in Thailand say their son is glad to be alive.

Nelson Rand, a Canadian-born reporter working with the France 24 television network, was struck by three bullets while covering anti-government protests in Bangkok on Friday.

Rand, 34, has since had surgery and is in stable condition. He is expected to recover.

"I break down when I talk about it," said his father, Serge Rand.

"It's the worst thing you can imagine because you have no control over the situation, so it's been … tough."

The elder Rand said his son is in good spirits and grateful to be alive.

His mother Barbara Rand said it's tough knowing their son is always working in dangerous conditions.

"We've learned to live with it, I think, as he's been doing this for a number of years now," she said.

"I just keep telling myself that he could be in Calgary and crossing the street and get hit by a bus or a stray bullet from gangs around here, so you can't worry about it constantly or you'd be in bad shape."

The Rand family says they are being told not to travel to Thailand to see their son because it's too dangerous.

An estimated 59 people have been killed and more than 230 have been injured — including a Thai newspaper photographer and Thai TV camera operator — in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters since April 10.