A 64-year-old man from Alberta, Canada died from sudden cardiac arrest while biking with a tour group near Rosario on Aug. 25.

“Despite every cardiac measure you can think of, he didn’t survive,” said Orcas Fire Division Chief Patrick Shepler.

The man collapsed while heading up Flaherty’s Hill on his bicycle. When 911 was called from a cell phone, it was routed to Canada.

“When you call 911 on a cell phone, there is chance you’ll get Seattle or British Columbia,” Shepler said. “If you are on a cell, we recommend dialing 360-378-4141, which is the direct line to the sheriff.”

Orcas EMTs administered an automated external defibrillator and performed CPR until Shepler arrived. Despite performing CPR and giving the man cardiac drugs, it was too late to save him.

“Everything went as smoothly as it could go, but it just wasn’t his day,” Shepler said.

A number of motorists stopped to assist the man, including a physician. The road was later closed to vehicle traffic for nearly an hour, while emergency responders tried to revive him.

The man’s wife was with him on the biking trip, but his children have not yet been notified.