Footballer who collapsed causing Premier League game to be abandoned suffered similar incident last season
The footballer who collapsed during today's now-abandoned Premier League fixture suffered a similar incident last season.
Luton defender Tom Lockyer appeared to collapse on the pitch today in an away game against AFC Bournemouth.
Lockyer was immediately attended to by paramedics on the 65th minute, as the score remained 1-1 at the time of the stoppage.
Commentator Gary Taphouse said on X at the time: "The Bournemouth staff doctor has confirmed that Tom Lockyer is alert & responsive."
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Due to a head injury, the defender was removed from the field of play on a stretcher, with a standing ovation from the crowd.
After the players were taken off, the Premier League confirmed the match had been abandoned.
A statement from the Premier League read: “The Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town FC has been abandoned due to a player medical incident.
“Our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer and all players involved in today’s match.”
Last season, Lockyer collapsed during Luton’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final win against Coventry.
The defender was conscious as he was stretchered off the pitch, before he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.
Opening up about the incident to The Central Club podcast, he said: “I remember walking out with the boy and it was so hot. We were warming up in the sun and I remember thinking ‘wow’.
“I remember trying to find the shade and warm-up in the shaded bit and looking up at Coventry warming up in the shade and thinking ‘that’s unfair’.”
He explained: “I’m back-pedalling, and as I’m back-pedalling my head went really light-headed like nothing I’ve ever had before.
“It’s like when you stand up real quick but worse and then my legs went like jelly almost instantly, and I remember falling backwards and the next thing I know I woke up and there were paramedics all around me.
“I remember waking up from a dream, I couldn’t tell you what it was about, but I remember having a dream.
“As soon as I came around, I was like, sweet again.”
He continued: “We got to the hospital, a really nice hospital, and it had Sky in the room. We watch all of extra-time in my room and then it went to penalties.
“That’s when my old man took the photo of me in my bed and my family celebrating with me.
“But even then it was like a half-hearted celebration, no pun intended, because I hadn’t been told what was going on and I didn’t wanna raise my heart rate.”
After a minor heart surgery, the Hatters captain returned to action for the start of the new season and had made 15 appearances so far in all competitions before Saturday’s match.
Anish Vij