Tom Lockyer poses with the medical staff who saved his life as Luton captain returns to the scene of his cardiac arrest at Bournemouth… while Cherries are hailed for ‘class’ programme gesture
Luton captain Tom Lockyer posed with Bournemouth medics who saved his life on Wednesday after he returned to the Vitality Stadium for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest on the pitch in December.
Lockyer collapsed during the Cherries’ home game against Luton in December and was technically dead for two minutes and 40 seconds before his heart was restarted by paramedics.
Ahead of Wednesday’s rescheduled match, Bournemouth opted to feature Lockyer – rather than one of their own – on the front of their matchday programme, in a touching gesture to the defender.
Luton praised the Cherries hours before kick-off, posting on X: ‘A touch of class’. They accompanied the words with two love hearts in the Hatter’s colors orange and red.
Lockyer, 29, has had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted after the terrifying incident which will shock his heart back into action if it ever stops again.
WARNING: disturbing images below
Tom Lockyer joins Bournemouth’s medical staff on his return to the Vitality Stadium
The defender was at the front of Bournemouth’s matchday program with a moving gesture
Lockyer’s heart stopped for two minutes and 40 seconds before paramedics restarted it during the December match, which was called off midway through the second half.
Lockyer, 29, spoke on ITV last month about the terrifying moment he thought he was dying
His cardiac arrest at Bournemouth was Lockyer’s second heart problem in several months after suffering atrial fibrillation (AF) during the Championship play-off final at Wembley last May.
Lockyer reunited with the Vitality Stadium medics who saved his life on Wednesday evening as his side prepared to take on Bournemouth after four defeats in their last five league games.
Luton boss Rob Edwards, who described Bournemouth’s medical staff as ‘real heroes’ during his press conference on Tuesday, admitted it will be an ’emotional’ return for his players.
“It will be emotional to go back and relive that experience, but we know we have to do it,” he said.
‘They (the doctors) are the real heroes. It’s just football and there are more important things, but what those boys did at the most pressured moment was incredible and they deserve all the attention and affection they’re going to get.
“It was a very difficult experience that we all went through. The most important thing now is that Locks is doing well and the positive side is that something good will come from this, with more awareness about CPR and the importance of knowing what to do in emergency situations.”
Ahead of the rescheduled Premier League match, supporters organized events to raise awareness of heart health. The Cherries Trust and Talking Cherries have raised more than £2,000 for Luton supporters coaches to attend the match.
Both supporters’ trusts will make a presentation and donation to the British Heart Foundation at the Vitality Stadium at half-time, and a one-minute round of applause has been organized for the 59th minute of the match – when the first match took place. to leave.
More to follow.