Vermont EMT Suffers Heart Attack, Dies While on Duty

A 41-year-old emergency medical technician with the Poultney (Vt.) Rescue Squad died after suffering an on-duty cardiac event on Oct. 7.

Mark W. Camara, an EMT-I who served on the Poultney squad for 24 years, suffered a heart attack at the station and was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center where he died, according to a new release from the National EMS Memorial Service.

According to the release, Camara held all officer positions at the Poultney squad and had spent the last two years as its president. He is remembered as an EMS educator and shared his knowledge freely through teaching Emergency Care Attendant, EMT-Basic and CPR classes. It was not uncommon for Camara to spend hours teaching new members how to drive the ambulances and how to use all the equipment.

His funeral was held on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Poultney Fire Department station where he was also a member.

An American flag was draped across the street between ladder trucks near the his burial site in Castleton, Vt. The procession was led by a Vermont State Police escort, the Castleton Police Department the Castleton constable. He was buried with military honors.

According to his obituary, he is survived by a wife and young son.