Virginia Man Experiencing Massive Heart Attack After Crashing Outside Cardiologist’s Office

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA — A 64-year-old man who suffered a sudden, massive heart attack while driving is alive today thanks to what doctors are calling a “miracle” — crashing his car just steps away from the office of one of the region’s top cardiologists.

A Sudden Heart Attack Behind the Wheel

Jeff Geraci was driving home from a workout class last month when he began to feel unwell. Moments later, he lost consciousness, swerving across several lanes of traffic before hitting a sign and stopping in a parking lot.

“I sat in the car because something didn’t quite feel right,” Geraci later recalled. “I was going to sit there and close my eyes for a few minutes. But instead, I decided to drive home.”

That decision nearly cost him his life — but also placed him in exactly the right spot.

Saved by a Cardiologist Nearby

Geraci’s vehicle came to a halt outside the office of Dr. Deepak Talreja, chief of cardiology at Sentara Health.

“When I got to your car, what I saw was the windshield was shattered and your airbags were deployed,” Dr. Talreja said, describing the moment he rushed to the crash. “You weren’t breathing, and you didn’t have a pulse — sudden cardiac death. But fortunately, we got things restarted very quickly, and so God was watching out.”

Medical experts say Geraci’s survival window was slim — if he hadn’t received emergency help within eight minutes, resuscitation would likely have been impossible.

The “Widow Maker”

Doctors later determined Geraci had suffered a severe “widow maker” heart attack, caused by a 95% blockage in the lower anterior descending artery.

“The confusion when I woke up with things in my arm and people running around, it was like a dream, muddled and foggy,” Geraci said. “I asked the nurse what happened, and he said, ‘You had a heart attack. You crashed your car.’”

Heart disease runs in Geraci’s family. His father suffered two heart attacks, his mother died of one, and his sister has heart problems. Despite being an athlete and marathon runner since his teens, Geraci said he never thought it could happen to him.

Recovery and Gratitude

Now recovering, Geraci has returned to work and is making changes to his diet and lifestyle. He calls the experience nothing short of divine intervention.

“It’s such a testimony of God’s greatness, of all the things that had to happen to keep me alive,” he said. “I’m blessed. It’s a miracle. God was there, and thank God Dr. Talreja was there.”

Geraci’s story underscores the importance of recognizing heart attack symptoms and the life-saving impact of quick medical response.

Have you or a loved one experienced a sudden medical emergency where timing made all the difference? Share your story and join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.