South Shore Man Brought Back From Death’s Door Gives Thanks

When Pierre Lachapelle went into sudden cardiac arrest last month, he was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time—a South Shore CLSC with trained medical staff and access to life-saving equipment.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Lachapelle required eight shocks from a defibrillator and an injection of adrenaline before his heart began beating again. Despite having no prior history of heart disease, his heart suddenly stopped while he waited for an appointment.

A Medical Emergency Without Warning

On February 2, Lachapelle had taken his granddaughter, Alicia, to the St-Hubert CLSC for a routine visit. While seated in the waiting room, he collapsed after suffering a heart attack, and his heart stopped beating.

Nursing staff at the CLSC immediately began emergency care. They were soon joined by officers from the Longueuil police and paramedics from the Coopérative de techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie. Working together, the team successfully restarted Lachapelle’s heart and restored his breathing—right in front of his granddaughter.

Returning to Say Thank You

Days later, Lachapelle and Alicia returned to the CLSC to personally thank the nurses, police officers, and Paramedics who saved his life.

Paramedic Christian Fleury described the visit as rare and deeply meaningful.

“It’s always our objective to bring a patient back to life, awake and alert, but it’s rare that we get to see the patients afterward,” Fleury said.
“This is very gratifying and touches the heart.”

You can read the full original news story here:
👉 South Shore man brought back from death’s door gives thanks (Montreal Gazette)

Why CPR and AED Training Matters

Cardiac arrest can happen suddenly and without warning—even to people with no known heart conditions. Survival often depends on immediate CPR and early AED use before paramedics arrive.

Learn More About Cardiac Arrest, CPR, and AEDs

For additional information on how early intervention saves lives, explore these trusted resources:

About The Author

Mark Kascha

Certified First Aid Instructor Trainer with 30+ years of real-world experience, including lifeguarding, workplace emergency response, and first aid program development across Canada. Has worked with WorkSafeBC, WSIB, and Manitoba Health.

👉 [View full credentials]🔗 View LinkedIn Profile

Last reviewed: March 2026

Serving Winnipeg and south Manitoba with the cheapest priced, highest quality first aid training, CPR and food safety courses since 2012 with a commitment to providing the best classes to Canadians.