THE quick response of medical staff saved Tom Lockyer’s life after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.
Luton’s captain collapsed in the 59th minute off the ball during the clash between the Hatters and Bournemouth on Saturday.
The club later confirmed that he remains stable in hospital.
Lockyer is lucky to be alive and has the quick-responding medics and his fellow players to thank.
Bournemouth star Philip Billing was one of the first to spot the 29-year-old defender on the floor and rushed to him.
Luton manager Rob Edwards has also been praised after he sprinted onto the pitch and waved players away to allow for paramedics to reach Lockyer as quickly as possible.
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The boss could be seen shouting “away, away” to members of both teams.
Medical staff gave Lockyer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and used an AED (automated external defibrillator).
The combination of the two saved his life due to the speed of which they were administered.
Lockyer is now set for tests on all organs, with the heart and brain most urgent.
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This is likely to include X-rays, an echocardiogram and brain scans.
His family are also entitled to be a screening by the NHS.
According to the Heart Research Institute UK, 90 per cent of the more than 30,000 cardiac arrests that occur outside hospitals each year in the UK are fatal.
Every week in this country, 12 seemingly fit and healthy young people aged under 35 die from undiagnosed cardiac conditions.
Receiving care as soon as possible is the difference between surviving and passing away – without treatment death is inevitable.
In a cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops pumping blood.
It getd out of rhythm and stops beating, leaving the sufferer without a pulse and breath.
The brain and other vital organs don’t receive oxygen and within four to six minutes there can be significant brain damage with them unconscious.
It differs from a heart attack as there is no block of blood flow.
A cardiac arrest is instead caused by an electrical disturbance and it impacts the ability for the heart to work.
Lockyer previously suffered a medical emergency in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.
He similarly collapsed and was rushed to hospital after receiving treatment on the pitch.
Following an operation, the Welsh international revealed he had an atrial fibrillation, which is a condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.
The clash between Bournemouth and Luton was abandoned after the worrying scenes with players in “no state of mind to continue”.
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Both teams reappeared following the announcement and applauded concerned fans waiting in the stands.
The match is likely to be replayed in full at a later date.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
