News/Commentary

UK soccer match halted after team captain collapses from cardiac arrest

December 17, 2023 | | Print Article

An English Premier League soccer match was suspended on Saturday after Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest while battling Bournemouth and collapsed on the field.

On X, the official account of the Luton Town Football Club covered the frightening incident, providing updates to their concerned fans.

“There’s a break in play as Tom Lockyer seeks medical attention,” the club reported. “We are all with you, Locks.”


Those watching the game saw Lockyer surrounded by players after he hit the ground.

The player was taken off the field on a stretcher as the crowd and his fellow athletes applauded in support.

(Video: YouTube)

“The fixture between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town has been suspended,” Luton Town announced on X. “All our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer at this time.”

“We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital,” the team wrote a short time later. “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,” they continued. “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,” Luton stated. “Our thoughts are with him and them all.”

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In a follow-up post, the team confirmed that Lockyer had suffered a cardiac arrest.

“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,” Luton wrote. “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,” the team continued. “We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks.”


Sadly, this isn’t the first time Lockyer has collapsed during a match.

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“Lockyer previously collapsed during Luton’s promotion playoff final win against Coventry City at Wembley on May 27,” according to ESPN. “The [center-back] spent five days in hospital and had an operation to fix an atrial fibrillation.”

“Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat too fast as the atria contracts in an abnormal, fast rhythm that prevents the heart refilling with blood before pumping it back around the body again,” the outlet explains. “Lockyer returned for preseason training at Luton after receiving the all-clear.”

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Melissa Fine
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