Luton has officially confirmed that their captain, Tom Lockyer, experienced a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s match against Bournemouth.
The club provided an additional update on Lockyer’s condition after he collapsed on the pitch during the Premier League clash. Lockyer received on-field treatment, was subsequently stretchered off, and was taken to the hospital.
The Premier League fixture was abandoned following the incident. Luton has now reported that Lockyer is in a stable condition, recovering in the hospital, and is with his family.
The club said in a statement: “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 the 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 previously collapsed while playing for Luton during the Championship play-off final. He was taken to the hospital and underwent treatment, telling the BBC in June that he’d been given the all-clear.
“I’ve had the operation to fix it and it shouldn’t happen again. There’s not really any reason to say why that happened,” he said. “I’ve been given the all-clear; it is what it is and I just want to draw a line under it now and move on. I’ve had my full heart checked and double checked with all the scans and tests they can do on a heart, and they’ve all come back positive.”
Following his second on-pitch collapse this year, Lockyer will undergo additional tests in the hospital.
Luton’s match against Bournemouth was abandoned, with the club confirming that the players and staff “were in no mind to continue” after witnessing their teammate’s collapse.
Manager Rob Edwards, visibly emotional, returned to the pitch to applaud supporters after the game had been called off.