After experiencing a cardiac arrest, Tom Lockyer found inspiration in the determined attitude displayed by Luton Town, which motivated him to keep fighting.

Tom Lockyer, the Luton Town midfielder, has provided an update for the first time since suffering a cardiac arrest during a match against Bournemouth in December.

The incident occurred in the 60th minute of the game, with the scores level at 1-1, leading to the match being abandoned. Lockyer was confirmed to be conscious and in a stable condition shortly after the premature ending of the game.

In a statement on social media, the Luton captain expressed his gratitude towards the responsive staff for saving his life. He wrote, “I would just like to say that I am doing very well and feeling very much myself after the cardiac arrest I suffered in Bournemouth. The reason I’m doing so well is all down to the heroic actions of the players, staff, doctors, and paramedics. I feel thankful that this happened to me surrounded by these heroes. They saved my life. I will never forget what you did for me.”

Prior to the Bournemouth game, Luton had been on a three-match losing streak. However, they managed to take the lead against Bournemouth through Elijah Adebayo within three minutes before Dominic Solanke equalized minutes before Lockyer’s collapse. Since that day, Luton has achieved victories against Newcastle United and Sheffield United, and even fought back from a 3-0 deficit to narrowly lose 3-2 against Chelsea.

Lockyer mentioned in his statement that the fighting spirit displayed by his teammates in the last three games has given him a much-needed boost as he continues his recovery. He expressed his pride in watching the team carry on the battle without him and stated his commitment to supporting the club and the manager in any way possible.

This is not the first time Lockyer has experienced such a health scare. He also collapsed during Luton’s Championship play-off final victory against Coventry City at Wembley Stadium in May, where he suffered from atrial fibrillation. After undergoing minor surgery and receiving the all-clear, Lockyer returned to action. However, following the incident at Bournemouth, he has been fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device and will be meeting with specialists in the new year to determine the next steps in his recovery.

Lockyer emphasized the importance of CPR and urged people to learn it, stating that it saves lives like his own. He encouraged individuals to visit the British Heart Foundation website for basic information or to enroll in a CPR course.

Lockyer expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received, including messages, letters, gifts, and well wishes. He also mentioned how much it meant to him and his family to see banners at the ground and hear his name being sung by fans.