Heler was a Bajoran prisoner on the Cardassian ship Ravinok in 2366 when it was attacked by the Breen and was forced to land on the planet Dozaria. He survived the crash and was forced to labor in a Breen dilithium mines on Dozaria.

He and several other survivors were rescued by Major Kira Nerys and Gul Dukat in 2372. (DS9: "Indiscretion")