A Quebec family traveled home from Florida with their deceased dad in the car to avoid paying expensive US healthcare and repatriation fees.

Canada-US border officers found the body of Fernand Drapeau, 87, of Ormstown, Quebec, inside the back of a van which was being driven home by one of his sons at about 2.30am on March 31. Drapeau's wife was also in the van at the time.

The Drapeaus were stopped at the at Hemmingford, Quebec, border crossing about 15 minutes from their home as they were on their way back from a trip to Florida, according to Le Journal de Montreal.

Canada-US border officers found the body of Fernand Drapeau, 87, of Ormstown, Quebec, inside the back of this van at about 2.30am on March 31. He had been dead for more than a day

The van, which Drapeau's wife was a passenger in, was being driven by his 60-year-old son. Drapeau died during the trip to Florida and the family was returning home with his body

Drapeau was said to have been dead for more than a day, although there did not appear to be any signs of violence on his body.

After being discovered by border agents, Drapeau's body was taken to hospital in Quebec, and then transferred to the morgue for an autopsy, according to officials.

A neighbor told Le Journal de Montreal that Drapeau and his wife frequently traveled to Florida during the winter.

At the start of this trip, Drapeau was said to have suffered some health problems and is believed to have had a heart attack at some point during it, according to the Toronto Sun.

When Drapeau died, apparently the wife and his 60-year-old son decided to return home to Quebec with his body rather than deal with expensive US healthcare and repatriation costs.

It is unclear when exactly Drapeau died, whether his family was negligent in his death or if they will face charges stemming from this incident.