Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer sheds light on six-month setback in new health update as he looks to begin playing again after cardiac arrest

Tom Lockyer Health Update: Luton Town Captain Details Setback After Cardiac Arrest

Luton Town’s captain, Tom Lockyer, has given a detailed account of the six-month injury complication that hampered his return to professional football following a cardiac arrest in December 2023. The defender, determined to resume his playing career after his heart stopped for several minutes during a Premier League match, experienced an ankle injury setback during training, further delaying his comeback.

Lockyer’s Cardiac Arrest and Initial Recovery

In a dramatic incident during a Premier League game against Bournemouth, Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, with his heart ceasing to function for over two minutes before prompt medical intervention restarted it. This episode occurred just seven months after he collapsed at Wembley Stadium during the Championship play-off final, raising concerns about his long-term health and playing future.

Reflecting on the life-threatening event, the 30-year-old Lockyer disclosed that, having been ‘technically dead’, he felt surprisingly at peace with the uncertainty surrounding his footballing career. Following the cardiac arrest, he underwent a procedure to fit an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to regulate his heart rhythm. Seeking expert guidance, Lockyer also consulted with Professor Sanjay Shah, the cardiologist renowned for assisting Christian Eriksen’s successful return to football after his own cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.

Ankle Injury Derails Comeback

Despite making positive progress in his cardiac recovery, Lockyer’s anticipated return to the pitch with Luton’s Under-21s last December was unfortunately derailed. Just days before his planned comeback match, he sustained ligament damage to his ankle during a training session. This setback necessitated surgical intervention, but regrettably, the initial operation proved unsuccessful in resolving the issue, requiring a second surgery to correct the problem.

“Very Challenging” Setback

Speaking as a guest pundit on Sky Sports, Lockyer described the impact of the ankle injury setback as “very challenging.” He elaborated on the sequence of unfortunate events:

• Approaching Medical Clearance: Lockyer was nearing the completion of the necessary medical assessments to be cleared for playing, requiring just three games to fulfill the criteria.
• Training Ground Injury: Two days before his first planned match, he twisted his ankle in training, resulting in significant ligament damage that demanded surgical repair.
• Surgery and Complications: The initial surgery, performed two months after the injury, did not yield the desired outcome, necessitating a second operation.
• Recovery Timeline: Now six months into his rehabilitation, Lockyer remains in a protective boot, with the timeline for its removal still uncertain.

Addressing his future playing prospects, Lockyer acknowledged the increasing pressure of time given his age, stating, “Time’s not on my side… when you start pushing 30 you start thinking the clock is counting down, can this be achieved?” However, he maintained a positive outlook, affirming his determination to return to professional football: “I’m a positive person, I wouldn’t be wasting everyone’s time if I didn’t think that was possible. I’m going to give it my best shot, but what will be will be.”

Recalling the “Serious” Cardiac Arrest

In a separate interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Lockyer offered a vivid recollection of his cardiac arrest experience, admitting he feared for his life before the medical team’s intervention. He recounted the gravity of the situation, stating, “There was no doubt this time and I kind of knew as well which is why when I started coming round and I couldn’t move or speak, the staff there on site were more in ‘go-mode’. They were focused and it was very serious.”

Lockyer further described the alarming realization of his critical condition: “That’s when I was like, ‘wow, I could be dying’. Obviously when you’re lying there and you can’t speak and can’t move, it’s not a nice feeling to have.” Despite the severity of the event, he noted the absence of pain once his heart was successfully restarted: “But when I could move and speak, I felt fine, which is the mad thing. I wasn’t in any sort of pain.”

Gratitude for Medical Staff and Survival

Expressing immense gratitude, Lockyer emphasized the critical role of the medical professionals in saving his life. “My heart got back into rhythm thanks to the incredible medical staff,” he stated. He further highlighted the fortunate circumstances of the cardiac arrest occurring in a medically equipped environment: “I’m so lucky it happened where it did because if it was to happen outside of hospital or a football pitch, the survival rate is only one in 10.”