Luton And Bournemouth Release Club Statements Regarding Tom Lockyer

Luton Town and Bournemouth both released club statements after their EPL game at the Vitality Stadium was abandoned after Tom Lockyer collapsed on the field.
Luton And Bournemouth Release Club Statements Regarding Tom Lockyer
Luton And Bournemouth Release Club Statements Regarding Tom Lockyer /

Luton Town and Bournemouth both released club statements after Saturday's Premier League game at the Vitality Stadium was abandoned after Tom Lockyer collapsed on the field.

The match was tied at 1-1 when referee Simon Hooper suspended play in the 65th minute after Luton captain Lockyer had fallen to the ground near the center circle.

After receiving treatment from the medical staff of both clubs, Lockyer was taken to hospital.

Luton confirmed that 29-year-old Lockyer had "suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch" but that he was "responsive" when he left the stadium.

Club medical staff and members of the emergency services pictured treating Tom Lockyer on the field at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium after the Luton Town captain collapsed during a Premier League game in December 2023
Club medical staff and members of the emergency services pictured treating Tom Lockyer on the field at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium after the Luton Town captain collapsed during a Premier League game on Saturday :: IMAGO/PRiME Media Images/David Horn

Saturday's game came 203 days after Lockyer collapsed on the pitch during last season's EFL Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium.

It later emerged that he had suffered an atrial fibrillation at Wembley - a condition that can cause an irregular or abnormally fast heart rate.

Lockyer underwent heart surgery over the summer before being cleared to return to playing.

A club statement issued by Luton at 5.15pm local time on Saturday evening read: "We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.

"We don't know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.

"We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.

"We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks' name inside the stadium at such a difficult time.

"Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family. Our thoughts are with him and them all."

Medical staff pictured treating Tom Lockyer on the field at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium after the Luton Town captain collapsed during a Premier League game in December 2023
Lockyer was later said to be "responsive" when he left the stadium to be taken to hospital :: IMAGO/Focus Images/Jeremy Landey

Bournemouth replied to Luton's statement on social media by writing: "We're relieved to hear Tom is responsive.

"Our thoughts will continue to be with Tom and his family at this time.

"We'd like to thank all the medical staff for their quick action as well as everyone inside the stadium for their support and unity during a difficult moment."

A second Luton statement then added: "Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.

"He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.

"Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside.

"We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks."


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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.