Luton's Tom Lockyer to meet with specialists before determining future following cardiac arrest

LUTON, England (AP) — Luton captain Tom Lockyer will meet with heart specialists before deciding his future after suffering cardiac arrest in a Premier League game at Bournemouth on Dec. 16.

The 29-year-old defender collapsed in the 59th minute at Vitality Stadium, resulting in the game being abandoned. Lockyer was discharged from the hospital five days later following a successful procedure

to fit an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

The Welshman made his first comments since the incident via his Instagram account on Sunday, thanking the doctors and paramedics who treated him and indicating that he hasn't given up on resuming his playing career.

Lockyer also collapsed during May’s Championship playoff final victory over Coventry at Wembley, leading him to undergo surgery to correct an atrial fibrillation.

“I will be doing whatever I can in whichever ways are possible to help the gaffer and the club. In what capacity that is remains to be decided as I’m due to meet with specialists in the new year," Lockyer wrote. “I have been overwhelmed by the support that I have received and thank you all for your messages, letters, gifts and well wishes. Seeing the banners at the ground and hearing my name being sung really did mean a lot to me and my family."

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen successfully resumed playing after being fitted with an ICD following his collapse at the European Championship in 2021 while playing for Denmark.

Lockyer thanked all the players, staff and medics who first treated him on the field, saying “they saved my life.”

“I feel thankful that this happened to me surrounded by these heroes," Lockyer wrote. ___

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