Tom Lockyer, the captain of Luton, reveals that during a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December, his heart stopped for over two and a half minutes. Despite this, he is still hopeful that doctors will clear him to continue playing professionally.
On December 16, in the 59th minute, the 29-year-old defender went down at Vitality Stadium, forcing the game to be abandoned. Five days later, Lockyer was released from the hospital after the implanted cardioverter defibrillator procedure went well.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Lockyer stated, “I was out for two minutes and forty seconds.” “The defibrillator was necessary to shock me back.” I want to express my sincere gratitude to the participating paramedics and club doctors because without them, I would not be here.
Lockyer had to have surgery to treat an atrial fibrillation after collapsing following the Championship playoff final victory against Coventry at Wembley in May.
He claimed that he immediately realized the severity of his breakdown at Bournemouth. As I approached the midway mark, I started to feel really dizzy. “I recall thinking that I would be fine in a moment, but in the end, I wasn’t,” he remarked.
“When I woke up, everyone including the paramedics were everywhere. It was May as well, but I could see right away that something was off. This time, I woke up from emptiness, unlike the other time when I woke up from practically a dream.
“There was an immediate increase in anxiety among the club physicians, physiotherapists, and paramedics. I was a little lost, unable to move or speak, and just trying to figure out what was going on.
“I remember thinking at the time that I might be dying here, and it was a very strange thought to have when I was immobile and unable to react.”
According to Lockyer, additional testing is necessary before medical professionals can determine with certainty if it is safe for him to return to competitive play.
“The medical staff and specialists will make all the decisions, but if there was a chance I could play again, I would love to and I wouldn’t go against their advice,” he remarked.
“I wouldn’t write it off, but it’s far too early to say. There are a lot more tests and things that need to happen in the background.”
Christian Eriksen, a midfielder for Manchester United, was able to return to action following his ICD fitting.