Dr. Jacques de Champlain died unexpectedly from a myocardial infarction on July 15, 2009. He was riding his bike in Richford, Vermont with his spouse and grand-children. They were on their way back to Sutton, less than 2 km from customs, when the tragedy occurred. Unfortunately, Dr. de Champlain did not receive the optimal prehospital care that was required for his condition. He would not have received optimal care either if he had suffered his cardiac arrest on the Canadian side of the border in the Eastern Townships, a region he was very fond of. In fact, there is no first responder service in place and no rapid access to cardiac defibrillation in this rural area.

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