Tom Lockyer has opened up about life-threatening collapse he suffered during a Premier League match against Bournemouth earlier this season.
What happened to Tom Lockyer?
The Luton Town captain was revived after his heart stopped beating due to an on-pitch cardiac arrest that left his life in the balance.
The 29-year-old revealed his heart stopped pumping for two minutes and 40 seconds during a Premier League game on December 16, 2023.
It was the second time the Luton defender had collapsed on the pitch away from the ball, the first time occurred in Luton's playoff final win against Coventry at Wembley in May 2023.
Lockyer returned to football to captain his side in their first-ever season in the Premier League. However, the football world stood still when he fell to the ground at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium, with the game effectively canceled and rescheduled for mid-March.
The United Kingdom-born player said he knew the December incident was more serious by the reaction of medical staff when they came to the pitch.
Speaking as a guest on Sky Sports before his side's 2-1 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday, February 18, the Wales defender discussed his near-death experience, including his memories of what happened and how he's doing now.
He said; "I am doing well, I am, 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 of 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 nothingness".
"I could see straight away, 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 a drip in my arm".
Despite the event happening nearly two months ago, there is still no clear reason why he (Lockyer) went through a horrible despair.
Meanwhile, he has taken comfort in speaking to other footballers who have experienced heart conditions, including Man United's Christian Eriksen, who had a heart attack on the pitch during Denmark's European Championship match against Finland.
He added; "I spoke to Eriksen, Daly Blind, and Charlie Wyke who all had similar heart conditions and one thing similar with all was to take your time to process what has happened".
"I don't know if I have processed but maybe because we as athletes we can deal with things differently and compartmentalize".
The 29-year-old was further asked about the chances of him returning to the pitch and he refused to rule himself out, despite admitting that the moment is still some way away.
He said; "My hands to a certain degree are dictated to by medical staff and specialists. What I would say is if there is a chance I could play again - I won't do anything against specialist recommendations, then I would love to".
He added; "It's far too early to say at this time, a lot more tests need to happen in the background, but I wouldn't write it off at a minute. But my priority is my family".
What happened to Tom Lockyer?
The Luton Town captain was revived after his heart stopped beating due to an on-pitch cardiac arrest that left his life in the balance.
The 29-year-old revealed his heart stopped pumping for two minutes and 40 seconds during a Premier League game on December 16, 2023.
It was the second time the Luton defender had collapsed on the pitch away from the ball, the first time occurred in Luton's playoff final win against Coventry at Wembley in May 2023.
Lockyer returned to football to captain his side in their first-ever season in the Premier League. However, the football world stood still when he fell to the ground at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium, with the game effectively canceled and rescheduled for mid-March.
The United Kingdom-born player said he knew the December incident was more serious by the reaction of medical staff when they came to the pitch.
Speaking as a guest on Sky Sports before his side's 2-1 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday, February 18, the Wales defender discussed his near-death experience, including his memories of what happened and how he's doing now.
He said; "I am doing well, I am, 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 of 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 nothingness".
"I could see straight away, 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 a drip in my arm".
Despite the event happening nearly two months ago, there is still no clear reason why he (Lockyer) went through a horrible despair.
Meanwhile, he has taken comfort in speaking to other footballers who have experienced heart conditions, including Man United's Christian Eriksen, who had a heart attack on the pitch during Denmark's European Championship match against Finland.
He added; "I spoke to Eriksen, Daly Blind, and Charlie Wyke who all had similar heart conditions and one thing similar with all was to take your time to process what has happened".
"I don't know if I have processed but maybe because we as athletes we can deal with things differently and compartmentalize".
The 29-year-old was further asked about the chances of him returning to the pitch and he refused to rule himself out, despite admitting that the moment is still some way away.
He said; "My hands to a certain degree are dictated to by medical staff and specialists. What I would say is if there is a chance I could play again - I won't do anything against specialist recommendations, then I would love to".
He added; "It's far too early to say at this time, a lot more tests need to happen in the background, but I wouldn't write it off at a minute. But my priority is my family".