methods and apparatus are provided an electrostatic discharge protection device having a first terminal and a second terminal . the esd protection device comprises a vertical transistor having a collector coupled to the first terminal , a base , and an emitter coupled to the second terminal . a zener diode has a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the esd protection device and a second terminal coupled to the base of the vertical transistor . subsurface current paths are provided to redistribute current from a surface of the vertical transistor in an esd event . the method comprises generating an ionization current when a zener diode breaks down during an esd event . the ionization current density from a surface zener diode region is reduced . the ionization current enables a transistor to dissipate the esd event .