Luton boss Rob Edwards admits Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest was ‘the scariest moment I’ve ever had’ as he hails ‘incredible’ medical staff… with the Hatters captain now out of hospital after having defibrillator fitted

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards has described Tom Lockyer's cardiac arrest on the pitch as 'the scariest moment I've ever had'.

Hatters captain Lockyer, 29, is back home after having a defibrillator placed under his skin to prevent a repeat of his collapse during their Premier League match at Bournemouth last Saturday.

Manchester United and Denmark star Christian Eriksen underwent a similar procedure after his cardiac arrest during the European Championship in June 2021.

Luton said medical tests showed this incident was 'different to the atrial fibrillation he suffered in May' when Lockyer collapsed in the Championship play-off final against Coventry City at Wembley.

Wales centre-back Lockyer will continue his rehabilitation at home and Edwards, who was in tears after the Vitality Stadium incident, has opened up about his emotions.

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“It was a very frightening moment, the most frightening moment I have ever had, let alone in football,” he told Luton club media.

“It was different to Wembley, I knew it then and we certainly know it now with all the testing that has taken place this week.

'We're going to get on with it and the main focus will be on Tom and his family, and we'll all be affected by it in slightly different ways and we'll all deal with it in different ways.

'We are all individuals, we are all different and we will all deal with it differently.

'I feel good, I have had a lot of support, everyone has also asked how I am doing, which I find difficult because I am not the one experiencing it.'

Edwards praised the medical staff at both clubs, as well as paramedics at the Vitality Stadium, for their quick response after Lockyer collapsed during the second half.

“I was emotional on Saturday, it scared me, but everyone rallied. The medical guys were incredible in such a scary and pressurized situation with the world watching them too,” he said.

“They made every decision right away and I'm so proud of them and they saved him.

“Our medical guys, the ones from Bournemouth, the paramedics who were there, they're the real heroes.”

Edwards said the club stuck to their pre-arranged plan to release the squad for two days after the match, but spoke about the support available to the players.

'Everyone will react differently in these types of situations. The options are there, a 24-hour helpline. The players know there is a lot of support around them, people they can talk to,” he said.

'I always talk about this: footballers are people first, people first. People see footballers from the outside as this, that and the other, but we are all human and when you see a situation like that happening, the footballer label is gone. I only see the person.

'People are encouraged to talk more and that applies in wider society, not just in football.

'I think football has been guilty in the past of putting on bravado and a stiff upper lip and just dealing with it, getting on with it.

“Those days are over and people know there is someone they can talk to or lean on if they want. It is not forced on anyone, but the help is there.'

The Hatters will be back in action at home against Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.