'He was a happy and loving boy': Community in shock after 13-year-old dies on ATV

A family is reeling after a 13-year-old boy died in an ATV accident in Haut-Lamèque over the weekend.

"I am a mother who is demolished, saddened," Sophie Chiasson said in a message to CBC News. 

The teen, Marc-André Gionet, lost control of the vehicle Saturday afternoon, according to police, and crashed into a gravel pit inside a quarry along Route 305 in the northeastern New Brunswick community.

RCMP are still investigating what could have contributed to the accident, which happened at a quarry with a steep embankment.

According to family members, Marc-André was riding an ATV trail with a friend that day.

He will always be the man of my life.- Sophie Chiasson, Marc-André Gionet's mother

"The school and people in the community are in shock, but I'd like us to think of all the wonderful things he left along his path," Chiasson said. "He was a happy and loving boy, always there for his friends."

"He was always in a good mood, and we will miss his laughter."

Long ambulance wait

Marc-André​'s friend, Hugo, ran back home to get help, according to his mother, Annie Noel.

"He came here, and he said 'Mom, something bad just happened. I need your help right away.'"

Noel called 911 around 3:45 p.m., and she and her son rushed back to the quarry.

She said she was giving the injured boy CPR while waiting for first responders.

Police came first, after about 15 minutes, she recalled, and took over. She said firefighters got there shortly after. 

But according to Noel, it took about 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at the scene.

"Stressful doesn't even begin to describe it," Noel said. "We're not doctors."

Ambulance New Brunswick acknowledged Monday there was a delay. 

The service said there were six ambulances working in the Acadian Peninsula on Saturday, and at the time of the call, four of them were not available to respond to emergencies.

"Three were on assignment, including a transfer to Moncton, and one unit was temporarily out of service because of a sudden illness," said Chisholm Pothier, director of communications for Medavie, which runs Ambulance New Brunswick.

"Overall, the system was busy on the peninsula on Saturday, particularly busy at the time of the call, and that led to a delayed response."

The ambulance that arrived at the scene was dispatched from Caraquet, according to Noel.

When paramedics arrived, Marc-André​ was transported to hospital in Tracadie. He was then transferred to Moncton, where he died as a result of his injuries.

RCMP said the investigation into the crash continues.