Luton captain Tom Lockyer has opened up on suffering a cardiac arrest in a Premier League game earlier this season.
The Hatters’ game against Bournemouth in December was brought to a sickening halt when the defender collapsed on the pitch for the second time in a matter of months.
After suffering an atrial fibrillation at Wembley in the Championship play-off final in May, Lockyer returned to football to captain his side in their first-ever season in the Premier League.
The football world stood still however when he fell to the ground at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, with the game effectively cancelled and re-arranged for mid-March.
Speaking as a guest on Sky Sports prior to his side’s game against Manchester United on Sunday, Lockyer discussed the events, including his memories of what happened and how he’s doing now.
Tom Lockyer has opened up on suffering a heart attack on the pitch two months ago
‘I am doing well, I really am,’ he said. ‘I’m incredibly lucky to be stood here and in such good spirits but I am really well.
‘It’s not something that happens every day, is it? It’s nice to be able to say I am doing well everyone deserves to know that and see me doing well. Tough couple months but I am well.
‘I was running up to the halfway line and went really light-headed, thinking would be OK in a second. I wasn’t and woke up with paramedics everywhere. It happened in May but knew instantly this time was different, last time I woke up almost like from a dream and this time woke up from a nothingness.
‘I could see straightaway, paramedics, physios, club doctors, there was more panic, I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, trying to work out what was happening. While that was going on I remember thinking, “I could be dying here”. It’s a surreal thought to have been thinking that and not being able to move or respond, and you could see panic going on. I could feel them putting drip in my arm
‘Once I came round it was a relief I am alive and fortunate it happened where it happened, I was living it and my family almost have it worse than I have. After what happened in May I have a recording device, and 2mins 40s I was out for, and had to have a defib to shock me back and massive thank you to paramedics, club doctors and everyone involved, as without them I wouldn’t be standing here.
Despite the event happening nearly two months ago, there is still not clear reason why it did, much to Lockyer’s despair.
But he has taken solace in speaking to other players who have suffered heart conditions, including Christian Eriksen, who had a heart attack on the pitch during Denmark’s European Championship match against Finland.
‘I wish I could tell you [why] because since I have looked back thinking could it be this or that but was just a normal day and that’s most worrying thing about it is I felt completely fine. Like I said, I have been looking and searching for answers. It was another day at the office and all going well until what happened happened.
‘I spoke to Eriksen, Daly Blind and Charlie Wyke who all had similar heart conditions and one thing similar with all was take your time to process what has happened. I don’t know if I have processed but maybe because us as athletes we are able to deal with things differently and compartmentalise.
‘I know I literally died but I’ve been quite numb to whole thing since. Common thing with them was take your time with thing sand do what is right with you and family, the baby is due soon and that’s my priority.’
