18 February 2024 , 13:57
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Luton captain Tom Lockyer has shared the harrowing details of a heart attack which he suffered during a Premier League match.
Bournemouth hosted Lockyer's Luton on Saturday, December 16 and during the second half, he was seen falling to the floor in disturbing scenes. It turned out that the Wales international was going through a cardiac arrest - just seven months after collapsing in the Championship play-off final at Wembley - and the match at Bournemouth was eventually abandoned.
Lockyer, 29, is now recovering from the incident and appeared as a pundit for Sky Sports on Sunday ahead of Luton's home game against Manchester United. Recalling the ordeal, which occurred when his girlfriend was seven months pregnant, Lockyer explained: "I was running up to the half-way line and felt really light-headed.
"I remember thinking, 'I'll be okay in a second', but eventually I wasn't and I woke up and the paramedics and everyone was everywhere. It was well-documented that it happened in May, but I knew this was different.
"Last time I almost woke up from a dream, this time it was nothingness. I could see straight away that the paramedics, physios, club doctors, there was a bit more panic around and I was a bit disorientated. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move and I was just trying to take in and work out what was happening, while that was going on, I remember thinking, 'I could be dying'.
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"That's a surreal thought to have and not be able to move and respond, and you can see the panic and feel the drip being put into my arm. It was all quite a hard mix of emotions, eventually I came around and was able to speak and respond. Once I came round and felt OK, it was almost a relief - 'I'm alive'. I'm just fortunate it happened where it happened. I feel like everyone watching it and my family had it worse than me."
Revealing how long his heart actually stopped for, the ex-Charlton, Bristol Rovers and Basingstoke defender said: "So, after what happened in May, I have a device fitted that records my heart.
"It was two minutes and 40 [seconds] I was out for and I needed a defibrillator to shock me back. A massive thank-you to the paramedics, club doctors, everyone involved that day because without them I wouldn't be standing here."
Tom Lockyer collapsed during Luton's game against Bournemouth (PA Wire)As for whether he'll play again, Lockyer admitted: "That's out of my hands in a way. That will be dictated by medical staff and specialists, but what I would say is that if there is a chance - obviously I won't do anything against specialist recommendations - then I would love to.
"Obviously it's far too early to say at this time, there's a lot more tests that need to happen. But I wouldn't write it off at the minute, but my priorities are with the baby."
The 29-year-old has also had contact with other professionals who've suffered heart attacks and managed to continue playing. "They've all been brilliant," Lockyer added. "I've spoken to Christian [Eriksen], Daley Blind and Charlie Wyke who have all had similar heart conditions. The one thing that was common from them all was, 'take your time to process what has happened'.
"And in some ways I don't think I have processed it, maybe because as athletes we're able to deal with things differently and can compartmentalise. Maybe it will come back and bite me on the bum, but I've not really had any emotions since, I know I literally died but I've been quite numb about it. But like I said, my girlfriend is pregnant, due soon, that's my priority."