‘I literally died’ – Tom Lockyer reveals heart stopped for over two minutes as Luton defender opens up on terrifying cardiac arrest

Tom Lockyer said he 'literally died' on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest in December. 

The Luton defender fell to the ground off the ball against Bournemouth before medics ran onto the pitch to treat him.  

Hatters boss Rob Edwards was seen in floods of tears following the abandonment of the game, as Lockyer was taken the hospital. 

It was confirmed the same evening that he was in a stable condition and fortunately, he had been resuscitated. 

The Welshman spoke publicly for the first time on New Year’s Eve but he has now recapped his experience of his collapse in detail. 

Speaking to Sky Sports, Lockyer said: “I am doing well, I really am. I'm incredibly lucky to be stood here and in such good spirits, but I am really well. 

“I was running up to the halfway line and went really light-headed, thinking would be okay in a second. I wasn't and woke up with paramedics everywhere. 

“It happened in May but knew instantly this time was different, last time I woke up almost like from a dream and this time woke up from a nothingness.

“I could see straight away, paramedics, physios, club doctors, there was more panic, I couldn't speak, couldn't move, trying to work out what was happening. 

“While that was going on I remember thinking, 'I could be dying here'.

"It's a surreal thought to have been thinking that and not being able to move or respond, and you could see panic going on. I could feel them putting drip in my arm.

“Once I came round it was a relief I am alive and fortunate it happened where it happened, I was living it and my family almost have it worse than I have. 

“After what happened in May I have a recording device, and 2mins 40s I was out for, and had to have a defib to shock me back and massive thank you to paramedics, club doctors and everyone involved, as without them I wouldn't be standing here.”

"It was hardest on my family having to watch that. They had it worse than me. My old man was there (at the match) and my girlfriend was seven months pregnant at the time.

"My mum was at home listening on the radio. She went off to make a cup of tea after Bournemouth scored, and when she came back my brother had turned the radio off. She asked 'why', and he had to say to her that Tom has gone down off the ball again.

"This is the bigger picture that people don't see and that is the hardest part to deal with. I am not going to lie, it has been a tough couple of months.

"I don't know if I have processed what happened. I don't know if it will come back and bite me on the bum, but I have not had any emotions since what happened. I literally died but I have been numb to the whole thing since."

Lockyer returned to playing following his first collapse in the Championship play-off final last year.

However, he couldn’t confirm if he will come back this time and admitted that the decision is going to be out of his hands. 

“My hands to certain degree are dictated to by medical staff and specialists,” he explained. 

“What I would say is if there is chance I could play again - I won't do anything against specialist recommendations - then I would love to. 

“It's far too early to say at this time, a lot more tests need to happen in the background, but I wouldn't write it off at the minute. But my priority is my baby.”

Lockyer isn’t the first player to have suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch and he has spoken to fellow survivors Christian Eriksen, Daley Blind and Charlie Wyke since the incident. 

He revealed he had received advice from the trio who told him to take his time before making a decision on what to do next. 

He said: “I wish I could tell you [why] because since I have looked back thinking could it be this or that but was just a normal day and that's most worrying thing about it is I felt completely fine. 

“Like I said, I have been looking and searching for answers. It was another day at the office and all going well until what happened happened.

 “I spoke to Eriksen, Daly Blind and Charlie Wyke who all had similar heart conditions and one thing similar with all was take your time to process what has happened. 

“I don't know if I have processed but maybe because us as athletes we are able to deal with things differently and compartmentalise.

“I know I literally died but I've been quite numb to whole thing since. 

“The common thing from them was take your time with things and do what is right with you and family, the baby is due soon and that's my priority.”