‘Dedication, courage, humanity’: Airmedic pays homage to victims of helicopter crash

The company that operated an air ambulance that crashed in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region on June 20 is honouring the four victims who perished.

Airmedic says three of its crew members died as heroes, along with an American patient.

Four crew members and the patient were aboard the Airmedic helicopter when it went down in a remote area north of Natashquan, about 1,000 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

The company described the patient as a quiet woman, entirely devoted to her family.

One crew member survived, the body of another person was found on Monday, and the other three victims’ bodies were recovered by provincial police on Wednesday.

The Quebec coroner’s office says the victims are Sébastien De Lutio, 50, from Lac-Beauport; Olivier Blouin, 25, from Pont-Rouge; Sébastien Groulx, 50, from Longueuil; and patient Claire Tripp, 78, from the U.S. state of Maine.

On its website, Airmedic says its employees were faithful to their mission until the very last moment, and saluted their dedication, courage, and humanity.

20-year-old Blouin was a flight paramedic and discovered his passion for airplanes and helicopters at a very young age while serving with the Air Cadets.

He joined Airmedic last year — described as a “significant turning point in his career.” He was working on the helicopter team.

“Olivier was a person of action and adventure,” said the tribute on the company’s website. “Bright, warm, and passionate, he knew how to comfort with a word, make people smile, and offer his help with disarming simplicity. Generous, always there for others, he left his mark wherever he went.”

One of his recent missions was working the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal. His employer says he was always enthusiastic when it came to going on a mission and cherished every moment spent in the air. 

Airmedic says Blouin had “plans, dreams, and a beautiful road ahead of him. He leaves behind the precious memory of a good person, loved by all and deeply respected.”

Sébastien De Lutio, 50, was a helicopter pilot with over 30 years of experience. He spent 29 years with the Canadian Armed Forces and two years with the Airmedic team.

He is being described as a “calm, discreet, authentic, and deeply caring person. Always smiling, he embraced life with contagious energy.”

His military career led him to participate in several major operations: OP Palladium in Yugoslavia, OP Hestia in Haiti, as well as a deployment to Afghanistan between 2007 and 2008. He also served at the Headquarters of the 5th Mechanized Brigade Group in Valcartier, then as a search and rescue pilot at the 439th Combat Support Squadron in Bagotville.

Affectionately known as Lulu, he was known to be a highly active man: enjoying mountain biking, skiing, and car racing.

Airmedic says De Lutio leaves a “huge void” within the team. “The memory of his smile will remain etched in our hearts,” the statement reads.

Groulx, a 49-year-old flight nurse, was part of the Airmedic team since December 2020.

The company says he was “a seasoned nurse, a former Olympic weightlifter, and, above all, an extraordinary human being.”

Before joining Airmedic, Groulx spent more than 13 years at Charles-Le Moyne Hospital in Longueuil, first as part of the flying team, then in emergency care.

Airmedic says he passionately shared his knowledge, helping to train a significant portion of the medical team and having a lasting impact on the company’s practices.

“He shone as much for his clinical skills as for his deep passion for his profession,” the tribute reads. “Always ready to answer the call, he was involved in meaningful projects. He knew that behind every flight, there was a life to protect, a family to reassure. His love of his profession drove him to extend his career, faithful to his vocation until the very end.”

Airmedic says Groulx is already missed, “but his legacy will live on through each of us.”

All three of the employees are said to be heroes.

The company also paid tribute to the patient, saying Tripp was “a discreet woman, entirely devoted to her family.”

She was described as someone that found great joy in the travels she shared with her husband and in the adventures they experienced together.

“Mother of one daughter, grandmother of two grandchildren, and blessed great-grandmother of two great-grandchildren, she deeply cherished the moments spent in their company. Her gentleness and caring presence leave a lasting impression on those who crossed her path.”