- Rob Edwards has revealed how he coped with Tom Lockyer’s collapse in December
- The Luton captain suffered cardiac arrest during a top match in Bournemouth
- Jack Grealish hasn’t been lucky… he’ll now be sweating over his Euro spot – It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Rob Edwards branded the moment Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch against Bournemouth as the ‘scariest moment of his life’ after speaking out about the shocking incident.
The Luton Town captain suffered cardiac arrest at the Vitality Stadium on December 16 – the second time in his career having previously happened during last season’s Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Lockyer received immediate medical attention from club staff and paramedics as he lay on the pitch before being rushed to hospital for further treatment and tests.
The match was subsequently abandoned as both players, staff and supporters on the pitch struggled with the disturbing scenes that had unfolded before them.
Lockyer was discharged four days later and is still recovering, but it remains to be seen whether he will ever play again after his second life-threatening health crisis.
Rob Edwards has told how he coped with Tom Lockyer’s collapse at Bournemouth in December
Luton captain Lockyer suffered cardiac arrest on the Vitality Stadium pitch
Edwards was one of the first people on the scene after sprinting from his dugout when Lockyer collapsed
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Hatters boss Edwards was one of the first on the scene when Lockyer fell to the grass on the south coast while sprinting from his technical area and recognized the severity of the situation.
The 41-year-old has now explained his deep personal feelings at the time of the harrowing incident The Athletics and admitted he broke down in front of his Luton players.
‘I don’t want to talk about it too much, but it was different. It was so scary.
‘I broke down a bit in front of the boys. I said, ‘I should be a leader here, but I don’t know what to say. I can’t guide you right now.
‘Everyone acted differently. (Forward) Carlton Morris spoke and some staff members did as well. And that’s where you can see how strong we are as a unit: players and staff.
Lockyer started the match before collapsing in the 58th minute, shortly after Dominic Solanke (right) had scored
Edwards described the shocking incident as the “scariest moment” of his life
“I know most of the time I have to stand up and be the face of it, but that just showed our strength and our togetherness because I wasn’t in a position to continue at that moment.”
Luton host Manchester United at Kenilworth Road in the Premier League on Sunday and the club have embodied the spirit of their absent captain since that day in Bournemouth.
Edwards explained that it was the ‘scariest moment of my life’, but said Lockyer still plays a big role in the squad even though he can’t be on the pitch.
The 29-year-old is awaiting a decision on his future but will not be rushed by the club, according to Edwards, who want his player to focus on recovery and the birth of his expected child.