Home / Health / Heart Attack Survivor Reunites with Vacaville Firefighters Who Saved His Life
Heart Attack Survivor Reunites with Vacaville Firefighters Who Saved His Life
29 Aug
Summary
- Man had heart attack while driving, crashed into boat
- Firefighters used CPR device and shocked him 6 times to revive him
- Reunion held 7 months later to thank the first responders
On Thursday, August 29th, 2025, a heartwarming reunion took place at Vacaville Fire Station 71. Michael Colombo, a 69-year-old man from Dixon, met the first responders who saved his life after he suffered a massive heart attack and crashed his car earlier this year.
In January 2025, Colombo was driving to a friend's house in Vacaville when he suddenly experienced a heart attack. His car crashed into a boat and then rolled into a nearby front yard. When the Vacaville Fire Department firefighter-paramedics arrived, Colombo was completely unresponsive with no pulse and not breathing. The lead firefighter paramedic, Darius Zarrabi, and his team quickly sprang into action, using a LUCAS machine, a CPR device, to save Colombo's life. They also shocked him a total of six times on the way to the hospital.
Colombo, who does not remember much from the incident, says he is grateful to have a second chance at life. He wanted to meet the team responsible for saving him, so he, his friends and family, the Vacaville paramedic crew, and even the nurse who treated him at the hospital all came together for a dinner at the fire station. It was an emotional reunion, with Colombo expressing his gratitude to the first responders who were there on his "worst day."
For the firefighters, moments like this remind them of their purpose. "It means I chose the right path and I chose the right job. I love being there on people's worst days," said Zarrabi. Colombo hopes his story will inspire others to take their health seriously and get regular check-ups, something he admits he had neglected.
