MP Geoff Brock returning to work after three heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery

Independent MP Geoff Brock is returning to work after not one – but three – heart attacks, including one in his SA office.

Geoff Brock is spreading a message of vigilance after he had three heart attacks and a quadruple bypass. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Geoff Brock can’t say it enough: he is very, very fortunate.

First, to make it through three heart attacks and a quadruple bypass surgery at the end of June.

Following that, for a relatively smooth recovery period, a now-strong heart and healthy organs.

But it has been the support he has received over the past eight weeks – from his family, friends, colleagues, the Stuart electorate and people right across the state – that he says has left him “overwhelmed and humbled”.

Mr Brock, 73, was in Adelaide on a Thursday night after work, just before parliament rose for its seven-week winter break, when he was hit by a shocking pain.

Geoff Brock will be back in parliament this week after he had three heart attacks at the end of June. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“It was 11 out of 10 … I thought it was bad indigestion,” he said on Sunday.

Mr Brock, who has spent decades representing Port Pirie at a local and state government level, had no reason to suspect that what he was experiencing was a heart attack.

He had no history of heart problems or high blood pressure, and his cholesterol readings had been low.

That night, he took Quick Eze and the pain subsided after about 40 minutes. But the next morning, while he was in his office preparing for budget estimates, the pain returned.

“It was really, really bad. I’ve never had anything like it,” he said.

An ambulance was called and he was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was stabilised. He was in hospital waiting to have a stent put in when he had a third attack.

Mr Brock said his doctors told him at that point his heart was “too far gone” and he would need at least a triple bypass.

“It was a hell of a shock to me,” he said.

That surgery took place a few days later at St Andrew’s Hospital and, though Mr Brock admits he was a bit apprehensive, it was a success.

He ended up receiving a quadruple heart bypass in a procedure that lasted five hours.

The next challenge for Mr Brock – a self-described “workaholic” who is minister for local government and veterans’ affairs – was taking time to recover from the surgery.

Mr Brock received more than 1600 well wishes following his heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery. Picture: Supplied

He was told to take as long as he needed to get his health in order but said it was still difficult.

“I’ve got a new electorate, I haven’t been able to get out there,” he said.

“This (winter break) was the ideal opportunity, but I couldn’t.”

As word of what happened spread, Mr Brock received more than 1600 messages of support in the form of cards, flowers, calls, texts, messages left at his office and even a poem sent in by an anonymous writer.

“People are just very, very understanding. They’re not expecting miracles,” he said.

Reflecting on his own journey, he said his message to the community is one of vigilance.

“I’m encouraging people to go that extra distance, whether it’s having an angiogram or whatever it may be, to check the blockages in your arteries,” he said.

“I’ve been telling people that, and a lot of people have been doing that even if they haven’t experienced a heart attack.”

Mr Brock has been slowly building back his workload and when parliament resumes this week, he will be there.

For that, he is grateful.

“I know I’ve been lucky … I won’t be buying any lotto tickets,” he laughed.