Tom Lockyer gives update on football return as he continues his recovery from a cardiac arrest… and opens up on the impact of his baby girl
- Tom Lockyer is ‘at peace’ with the fact his football career may be over
- The Luton captain, 29, is grateful to be alive and able to watch his daughter grow up
- Is the North London Derby the best match in the Premier League? Listen to the It all starts! podcast
Tom Lockyer says he has made peace with never playing football again if doctors tell him to quit after his cardiac arrest.
The Luton captain’s heart stopped for more than two and a half minutes during a match at Bournemouth in December, seven months after collapsing at Wembley in the Championship play-off final victory against Coventry.
‘A decision whether I play again or not is further down the line. But at any time the cardiologist can say you can’t play anymore,” Lockyer said at the launch of the Every Minute Matters campaign – a year-long partnership between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation to inspire the nation to learn life -saving resuscitation.
‘However, I am at peace with it if that happens. I would just consider it a positive that I’m still here, not that I can’t play anymore.
‘A decision is not in my hands. I would really like to play again. I have made no secret of it, but it must be done safely.
Tom Lockyer has made peace with the fact that he will never play football again if doctors tell him to stop
Lockyer shared his new outlook on life at the launch of the Every Minute Matters campaign, a year-long partnership between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation
Lockyer’s heart stopped for more than two and a half minutes during a match at Bournemouth in December
Lockyer led Luton to the Premier League, with the Hatters still fighting to avoid a drop
‘I feel safer than ever before. I have a defibrillator in my side. Ultimately, the decision is not mine.
‘I am incredibly fortunate to have had a 10-year career playing in every competition, non-League, up to the Premier League and scoring in every competition. I also have fourteen caps for Wales. It’s more than I ever imagined.’
The 29-year-old became a father earlier this year and began to cherish the time he spent with his daughter. A precious experience that he feared he would not get.
“I’m so lucky to still be here and in her life,” he said.
“When I hold her now, it’s just amazing. The feeling and love you have for your child is incredibly strong and mine is even stronger now. I’m so grateful to be here to see her grow, see her change, see her smile and, you know, be sick of me. I just love it. I am incredibly lucky. I can’t emphasize that enough.’
And Lockyer admitted hiding his emotions has helped him cope with the traumatic events of the past year.
‘I think it’s a bit of a coping mechanism, not getting emotional and not thinking about it. It’s probably my shield in a way,” he said.
Lockyer imagined himself speaking to Glenn Hoddle at the Sky Bet and British Heart Foundation event
“I’ve never really been one for a lot of emotions, but I do think that as a professional athlete you have a way of dealing with setbacks, setbacks, losses, falls and all that kind of stuff.
‘You can compartmentalize a bit. Of course there have been things that have flared it up, but overall I’ve been able to deal with it very well. I think I’m incredibly lucky in that sense.”
Tom Lockyer was speaking at the launch of the Every Minute Matters campaign, a year-long partnership between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation to inspire the nation to learn life-saving CPR. Learn CPR for free in 15 minutes with RevivR™