Luton captain Tom Lockyer has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match last weekend.
Lockyer underwent a procedure in which he was fitted with an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) device, which is intended to prevent a repeat of the incident which saw him collapse on the pitch in the 59th minute of Saturday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth.
Luton said the 29-year-old Lockyer has now begun a period of rehabilitation at his own home in the wake of the incident, which they said was unrelated to his previous collapse in the Championship play-off final in May.
A club statement read: “We can now confirm that the tests taken this week had revealed that the issue Tom experienced on Saturday was different to the atrial fibrillation he suffered in May.”
Christian Eriksen was the first known Premier League player to be fitted with an ICD after he suffered a cardiac arrest in 2021 at the European Championship.
An ICD is a type of pacemaker that can prevent fatal cardiac arrests by discharging a jolt to restore a regular heart rhythm.
Luton added: “The club, Tom and the Lockyer family would like to take this opportunity to repeat our collective heartfelt thanks to all at Bournemouth, their supporters, club officials and especially their medical staff and midfielder Philip Billing, who was the first to reach Tom on the pitch and summon assistance.”
Concerns for Lockyer’s health had been heightened given the previous incident, during the play-off final victory over Coventry, following which Lockyer underwent surgery to correct an atrial fibrillation.
He subsequently returned to action for the start of the new season and had made 15 appearances in all competitions before Saturday’s match.
But Luton’s statement continued: “The clinical advice Tom and the club has taken since the Championship play-off final has been conducted by the most renowned cardiologists, who have been involved at every step, along with a team of supporting multi-disciplinary consultants.
“We can now confirm that the tests taken this week had revealed that the issue Tom experienced on Saturday was different to the atrial fibrillation he suffered in May.”
Bournemouth sent their support for Lockyer in a post on their social media accounts, responding: “We couldn’t be happier to hear this news. We’re wishing Tom well for his continued recovery.”
The Premier League announced on Wednesday that the match will be replayed in full on a date yet to be confirmed.
Source : Sky Sports
