‘I may very well be dying right here’ – Luton’s Lockyer on on-pitch collapse

Luton City defender Tom Lockyer mentioned he feared he was dying when his coronary heart stopped and he collapsed throughout a Premier League recreation in opposition to Bournemouth in December, and added that he hasn’t dominated out returning to the game ought to he be medically cleared.

The match on Dec. 16 was deserted after Lockyer went into cardiac arrest 59 minutes into the competition earlier than spending 4 nights in hospital, the place he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator system fitted to forestall a repeat of the incident.

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It was the second time Lockyer has collapsed on the pitch away from the ball, the primary time occurring in Luton’s playoff last win in Could at Wembley.

Lockyer, 29, mentioned he knew the December incident was extra critical by the response of medical employees when he got here to on the pitch.

Talking on Sky Sports activities, he mentioned: “I knew immediately this time was completely different. Final time I awakened from nearly a dream, and this time I awakened from a nothingness, and I may see right away from the paramedics and the physios and the membership physician that there was a bit extra panic round.

“I used to be a bit disorientated, I could not converse, I could not transfer. I used to be attempting to work out what was occurring, and I keep in mind considering: ‘I may very well be dying right here.'”

The defender went on to element that he “was out” for practically three minutes.

“After it occurred in Could, I’ve just a little recording system underneath the chest — and two minutes 40 I used to be out for. I wanted to have the defibrillator to shock it again,” Lockyer mentioned.

“Clearly an enormous due to the paramedics, the membership docs, everybody who was concerned that day as a result of with out them I would not be standing right here.”

Lockyer mentioned his father and girlfriend, who was seven months pregnant on the time, had been each current at Kenilworth Street when he went into cardiac arrest.

Lockyer mentioned whether or not he can return to taking part in is out of his fingers, however he stays hopeful.

“That might be dictated by medical employees and specialists, however what I might say is that if there’s a probability — clearly I will not do something in opposition to specialist suggestions — then I might like to.

“Clearly it is too early to say at the moment, there’s much more exams that must occur. However I would not write it off on the minute, however my priorities are with the infant.”

Lockyer has spoken to different gamers who’ve returned to the pitch with related coronary heart circumstances, together with Christian Eriksen, Daley Blind and Charlie Wyke.

“The one factor that was widespread from all of them was, ‘Take your time to course of what has occurred,'” Lockyer mentioned.

“In some methods I do not assume I’ve processed it, possibly as a result of as athletes we’re capable of take care of issues in another way and may compartmentalise.

“Perhaps it is going to come again and chunk me on the bum, however I’ve probably not had any feelings since, I do know I actually died however I have been fairly numb about it. However my girlfriend is pregnant, due quickly; that is my precedence.”

Info from Reuters contributed to this report.