Unfortunately, Tom Lockyer had to stay in the hospital overnight for further examinations and scans, following his collapse during Luton Town’s match against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
During the 59th minute of the match at the Vitality Stadium, the captain of Luton experienced a heart attack and collapsed on the ground. Paramedics and staff on the field quickly attended to him. Lockyer was then transferred to the hospital and was reported to be conscious and able to respond. The game, which had been temporarily halted, was ultimately called off with 65 minutes remaining.
Rob Edwards, the manager of Luton, was one of the first to quickly move towards the injured Lockyer and guide both groups of shocked players away from the situation. On Sunday, the club gave an additional update on Lockyer, 29, and asked for fans and the media to be patient and understanding.
The team announced that their captain, Tom Lockyer, is still hospitalized after experiencing a cardiac arrest during a match at Bournemouth yesterday. They acknowledge that fans are worried about his well-being and that there is a lot of media attention surrounding his condition.
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Tom is currently undergoing tests and scans to determine the next steps for his recovery. We are unable to give constant updates on his condition, and ask that all media wait for official updates from the club when they become available.
“We all hope for the best for Tom, his partner Taylor, and the entire Lockyer family. We kindly request that their privacy be respected during this challenging time.”
The match officials, led by referee Simon Hooper, together with the players and managers Andoni Iraola and Edwards, made the decision to end the game.
The game is anticipated to be rescheduled and played in its entirety, in accordance with Premier League regulations. The league’s board is currently deliberating on this matter and will make an announcement at a later time. When questioned by the Guardian, sources from the Premier League were unable to confirm if the appropriate medical procedures were adhered to on the day.
The league might have to address inquiries about future procedures regarding similar occurrences, especially concerning players who have previously suffered heart-related issues on the field, like Lockyer.
The Wales international, a former Bristol Rovers and Charlton player, collapsed during Luton’s promotion playoff final victory against Coventry at Wembley on 27 May this year. He spent five days in hospital and required surgery to treat an atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. Lockyer returned for pre-season training at Luton after receiving the all-clear in June, but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to play again at the highest level.
Last Sunday, the Luton women’s team showed their support for him by taking a picture with Lockyer’s No 4 shirt before their 1-0 win against Keynsham in the FA Cup third round. They tweeted, “We hope for a quick recovery for him from everyone at Luton Town Ladies.”
The supporters of Luton also showed appreciation to their fellow fans at Bournemouth for their patience and compassion during the difficult situation at the Vitality Stadium. A flag displaying the Luton emblem was placed at the entrance of Bournemouth’s stadium on Sunday morning, accompanied by a brief message that said: “We are grateful to the AFCB staff, fans, and players.”
Phill Macbeath-Seath, host of the We Are Luton Town podcast, shared his experience of witnessing the event from the away section of the stadium. He likened it to the intensity of watching Christian Eriksen’s collapse during the Denmark game, but in real time.
The situation was terrible, I lack the ability to fully convey the level of anxiety that everyone was experiencing.
Thank goodness common sense and human decency prevailed [and] the game was abandoned. It was a wonderful touch by the Bournemouth fans to join in singing with real vigour for Tom.
The situation was distressing and upsetting, but it also demonstrated the power of thousands of people uniting to show their support for a fellow human and those impacted by a tragic event.
Tyler Gregory, a fan of Bournemouth, was seated behind the goal and participated in the home fans’ chants for Lockyer. He shared, “It was quite unsettling once people realized what had occurred. Only when the players gathered by the sideline and eventually left the field did people realize it was a medical emergency. I believe many in the crowd thought it was a collision involving the head.”
For Gregory and other Bournemouth fans there was no ill-feeling or anger that the game was abandoned. “Absolutely not. The only important result that came out of yesterday was Tom’s health. As a Bournemouth fan it was really touching of our fans to chant his name and show great respect to Tom, his teammates and family.”
Source: theguardian.com
