16 December 2023 , 17:24
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Luton have confirmed captain Tom Lockyer has been taken to hospital after collapsing during their clash with Bournemouth, though the full extent of what happened is not yet clear.
"We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital," the statement read.
"We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
"We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.
"We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time. Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family. Our thoughts are with him and them all."
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Bournemouth stated their relief that Lockyer was responsive and insisted their thoughts were with the Luton skipper. They paid tribute to all the medical staff involved in rushing to his aid.
"We’re relieved to hear Tom is responsive. Our thoughts will continue to be with Tom and his family at this time. We’d like to thank all the medical staff for their quick action as well as everyone inside the stadium for their support and unity during a difficult moment," a statement from the Cherries read.
The match was ultimately abandondedLuton later confirmed Lockyer had suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. A statement from the Hatters read: "Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.
"He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides. Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside. We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks."
Lockyer went down during the second half of the game and received treatment from medical staff who rushed on the pitch to his aid. Luton boss Rob Edwards ran onto the pitch and beckoned his players away from the incident.
Both sets of players returned to the dressing room, before the match was abandoned. A club doctor at Bournemouth told both Sky Sports and BBC commentators that the Welsh international was "alert and responsive" in the tunnel.
The 29-year-old previously collapsed during Luton's victorious Championship play-off final against Coventry last season. He received hospital treatment and heart surgery after an atrial fibrillation, a condition the NHS describes as causing "an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate", was identified.
He recovered from the incident to return in time for the start of the Premier League campaign, scoring in a win against Everton. He has made 14 appearances in total in the top-flight this season.
Applause for Lockyer broke out on a number of occasions at the Vitality Stadium as the defender continued to receive treatment. The game was poised at 1-1 after goals from Elijah Adebayo and Dominic Solanke, with both sets of players returning to the pitch after the abandonment was confirmed to thank the fans.