Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer has shared the harrowing experience of suffering a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth last year.
The 29-year-old defender recounted the terrifying moments when his heart stopped for two minutes and 40 seconds before being resuscitated by medics on December 16.
Lockyer, who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator after spending five days in the hospital, revealed that he “literally died” as his father and pregnant girlfriend watched from the stands.
In a conversation on The Rest Is Football podcast with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, Lockyer provided insights into his thoughts immediately after being revived.
“My first thought when I regained consciousness was about my girlfriend, who was seven months pregnant and watching from the stands,” Lockyer said. “I was worried about how she was feeling, knowing she couldn’t do anything to help.
I was also concerned about whether the stress of the situation would affect the baby in any way. It was a challenging moment, but she handled it remarkably well, and I can’t praise her enough.”
Reflecting on the ordeal later in the podcast, Lockyer admitted to feeling numb and disoriented. “It’s hard to put into words,” he explained. “I woke up and struggled to comprehend what was happening. I couldn’t move or speak.
Although I could sense the paramedics and physios were working urgently, I couldn’t respond to their questions or commands. The thought crossed my mind that I might not make it through. It felt like I was in a movie, waking up disoriented after a big explosion.”
Lockyer also touched upon the recent birth of his daughter and how it has altered his perspective. “The arrival of my baby has completely changed my world,” he shared. “Although I may not have much energy right now, I hope to visit Luton more frequently once things settle down a bit.”
