SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – February is national Heart Health Awareness month an important reminder to get your routine checkups.

Tonight we’re hearing from one Georgia man who now speaks out about his heart attack experience in 2022 that took him from the sideline of a football game to a hospital bed in just a matter of minutes.

“He entered into a dangerous life-threatening heart rhythm, that if somebody did not act immediately, he would not have made it off that field,” said Dr. Michael Babcock, Cardiologist, St. Joseph’s Heart Hospital.

Eric Parker, former Burke County High School head football coach, was at an away game in Wayne County, when he says something didn’t feel right.

“I just got real light-headed. I mean there were no symptoms prior to that. And I collapsed and had a massive heart attack,” said Eric Parker, heart attack survivor.

That’s when athletic trainers were able to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, bringing his heart rhythm back to normal, something doctors say saved his life.

After that, he was flown to St. Joseph’s Heart Hospital.

“We found that he has a 99% blockage in his LAD, which is the front wall artery of his heart,” said Babcock.

Dr. Babcock says they were luckily able to fix it with one stint.

Parker says when looking back, he did have a few symptoms leading up to the attack, something he didn’t think much of at the time.

“We really thought that I had been dealing with an occasional case of acid reflux,” said Parker.

Now he says he tells everyone that there’s no excuse not to see your doctor.

“When you know things are not right, you have to go and try your best to find out what’s happening because this could’ve had a whole different ending,” said Parker.

On top of seeking medical attention, Dr. Babcock says it’s important to maintain a heart healthy lifestyle.

“Exercise, keep active. If you notice yourself or any of your family members having a similar situation or any exertional symptoms, seek out care,” said Babcock.

All to help keep you out of the hospital.

“I would much rather see somebody in my office, healthy and conversive, and we can talk about risk factors and hopefully prevent a heart attack, than in the middle of the night, dealing with a heart attack, and hoping we get a second chance,” said Babcock.

Advice Parker says he can’t share enough.

“Make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. You know, that is not wasted time, that is a great investment,” said Parker.

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