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The game between Bournemouth and Luton Town in the Premier League was called off when Hatters’ captain Tom Lockyer collapsed in the middle of the field. This occurred only a few months after a similar event during the Championship play-off final.
Around the 60-minute mark at the Vitality Stadium, the central defender fell to his knees and then to his stomach, seemingly without being touched by an opposing player. Medical personnel quickly attended to him as Luton manager Rob Edwards rushed onto the field to assist his team captain and move other players away from the scene.
Both teams’ players exited the field and, following some time receiving medical attention, the Welsh defender was placed onto a stretcher. He was covered with a black blanket and carried off the field as fans cheered his name.
After being taken to the hospital, the game was suspended for approximately 20 minutes before officially being called off. It will be rescheduled for a later time.
Luton subsequently released a statement stating that Lockyer was conscious and responsive while in the hospital. They also provided an update after 30 minutes, announcing that he had experienced a cardiac arrest but was currently in a stable state.
According to the statement, our team of medical professionals have verified that the captain of the Hatters experienced a cardiac event while on the field, but was conscious when he was transported off on a stretcher.
“He was given additional medical care at the stadium, and we extend our gratitude to the medical teams from both teams. Tom was then taken to the hospital, and we can assure fans that he is in stable condition and is currently undergoing further examinations with his family by his side.”
“We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks.”
Emergency responders quickly came to assist Lockyer.
The previous social media post confirmed that Lockyer was conscious in the hospital and provided the reason for the match being cancelled.
“We are all keeping our leader and captain Tom Lockyer in our thoughts and prayers. We are grateful that he is responsive and has been taken to the hospital. At this time, we are unsure of the full details of the incident and what the next steps will be. However, we would like to express our gratitude to Bournemouth and the medical teams involved for their prompt and exceptional response.”
We apologize to all fans in attendance that the players from both teams were unable to continue with the game. This was due to the emotional distress caused by the injury of their beloved teammate and friend. The staff also could not continue to oversee the game under these circumstances, as they were occupied with handling the situation.
We express gratitude to everyone for the amazing cheers and chants of Locks’ name in the stadium during this challenging time. It is now the moment for our players, staff, and fans to unite as we always do and show our love and support for Tom and his family. Our hearts are with him and his loved ones.
The Premier League issued a brief announcement stating that the game between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town FC has been canceled due to a player’s medical emergency. We extend our sympathies to Tom Lockyer and all players participating in today’s match.
Last season, Lockyer experienced a collapse while on the field during the Championship play-off final against Coventry City. It was later revealed that the 29-year-old had an atrial fibrillation, a condition that can result in a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
He later underwent a surgical procedure to address the problem and came back to playing football earlier this year. He was given the go-ahead to play and felt confident with the surgery he had.
“I underwent surgery to address the issue and it should not occur again,” he informed the BBC. “There is no specific explanation for why it happened. I have been given the green light – it is what it is and I simply want to put it behind me and move forward.”
Elijah Adebayo scored an early goal for Luton, but the game was tied 1-1 with Bournemouth as Dominic Solanke scored in the 58th minute.
The event reminded many of the incident where Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a match for Denmark against Finland in Euro 2020.
During a Euro 2020 match, Christian Eriksen collapsed while on the field.
The image is from POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
During a match in Copenhagen, the midfielder experienced a cardiac arrest and received prompt medical care on the field. He was then transported to the hospital, where it was later announced that he had essentially passed away before being revived.
“He was gone. We did cardiac resuscitation, it was a cardiac arrest,” team doctor Morten Boesen said. “How close were we to losing him? I don’t know, but we got him back after one defib, so that’s quite fast.
“I believe that having access to top-of-the-line medical equipment nearby was crucial,” Boesen stated. “The length of time between the incident and receiving assistance is the most critical factor, and in this case, it was short.”
Following a period of rehabilitation, Eriksen fully recovered and resumed playing in the Premier League with Brentford. He then went on to join Manchester United, where he is currently a player.
Source: independent.co.uk
