Passed out unexpectedly on the field, and cardiac arrest again!Will Lockyer, who escaped death, be so lucky next time?
While it was Lockyer's health credentials that were truly reassuring, it was still encouraging to hear the news Saturday night that the Luton captain was in stable condition at South Coast Hospital.
When Lockyer suddenly fell to the ground midway through the second half against Bournemouth, it was impossible not to think about the worst-case scenario. There was no noticeable collision before he fell, so the Vitality Stadium immediately went into a panic. The exaggerated body language of Lockyer's teammates also exposed their concerns.
The 29-year-old was treated by medical staff and club staff on the pitch before he was taken on a stretcher. The game was suspended after being interrupted for nearly half an hour. No one cares or complains about this because the outcome of any game is insignificant compared to the health of the players.
Luton confirmed that Lockyer had suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. He will continue to undergo further tests in the hospital in the next few hours and days.
Regardless of the player's status, it's very uncomfortable. However, in fact, Lockyer's fainting again made the mood of Luton fans even more uneasy. Fans who kept pointing their fingers to the pitch and whispering prayers would be so worried, not just because one of the players suddenly passed out on the ground, but also because Lockyer was once again the protagonist of a similar incident.
It was probably the most memorable day of Lockyer's career. When Luton Town celebrated promotion to the Premier League, Lockyer was not on the pitch and his unexpected fainting broke the original plan for celebration.
27 May 2023: Luton Town take on Coventry City in the Championship play-off final. Luton Town are one game away from promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 31 years and are just one step away from making the magical leap from non-professional to top-flight in a decade.
Captain Lockyer led his team-mates at Wembley, and the player's trajectory was closely intertwined with the club's trajectory. The centre-back started his career at Bristol Rovers before rising out of the national league (fifth tier of English football) in 2014/15 and was promoted to League One a few seasons later. He has proven himself good enough at Charlton Athletic and Luton Town to gradually establish himself in the Championship and make breakthroughs.
Lockyer may still have vivid memories of what happened that summer afternoon. In the 8th minute of the game, he suddenly collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical attention. He spent the rest of the game in his bed at London's Cleveland Clinic and watched his team-mates win promotion to the Premier League through a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Doctors later diagnosed Lockyer with atrial fibrillation. This is a type of arrhythmia (a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat, often a rapid heartbeat).
This type of disease is not uncommon in sports: research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that athletes have a nearly twice higher risk of developing arrhythmias than non-athletes.
Still, the sight of a footballer suddenly going down during a match is a wake-up call, given the tragic deaths of former Cameroon international Vivian Foo and former Newcastle midfielder Tiot in 2003 and 2017 respectively. In the match between Denmark and Finland at Euro 2020, the image of Eriksen suddenly fainting on the turf is still fresh in my memory.
Lockyer later admitted that he could not remember how he fell to the ground, but he did not seem to be too worried about his body. He said in June this year: "To the other ** people, they probably think my situation is going to be serious. But I'm feeling good now. I never really felt any danger and things were definitely not as bad as they seemed. ”
I've had surgery and maybe it won't happen again. There is no reason why this is happening. I've been given permission to continue playing. I just want to pick myself up now and move on. ”
Obviously, it is too early to draw any concrete conclusions about the events of last Saturday, let alone link them to what happened in May, since these are the jobs of doctors and cardiologists. Lockyer's two faintings do help explain why Luton head coach Edwards looks so emotional at Vitality Pitch, though. He has now seen his captain pass out on the pitch twice in 7 months. Of course, this time the level of concern is stronger than the last time.
Now, it's natural to worry about whether Lockyer's career can continue, especially given the good form he has shown since entering the Premier League. On top of that, he is a fan-favorite and straightforward centre-back who will often block a goal with crucial fill-ins and then take responsibility after the final whistle. He wasn't knocked down by the Premier League, which is why he can be respected by the fans.
However, these are now secondary issues. Lockyer's health is what matters most. Further medical examinations will follow-up and will guide Lockyer's ** program. Now, Lockyer's condition has stabilized and he is also well cared for. At the end of a depressing and gloomy afternoon, this was undoubtedly the best news we could hear.