Tom Lockyer looks forward to the Premier League adventure with Luton Town without any worries. His heart problems have completely resolved, says the 28-year-old defender, who went to ground in the play-off final against Coventry City.
Luton player shares relief after nasty heart problem at Wembley
During the final at Wembley, there was a moment of shock when Lockyer collapsed. That was a week and a half ago now. Speaking to Sky Sports, he looks back lightly at the moment it went wrong: “It was actually quite funny, because I had a good header chance and I got a bit excited because I thought I would score at Wembley. I didn’t feel it coming. I just ran back to the back and suddenly got really lightheaded. My legs immediately felt very weak and I fell down.”
It soon became clear that the problem was not life-threatening. The defender from Wales turned out to have had a heart rhythm disorder, a so-called atrial flutter. The Wednesday after the game, Lockyer underwent a medical procedure to ensure that it cannot happen again. Last Monday he heard from the doctors that everything is fine and that he can continue his career.
For example, a debut in the Premier League is very close for the player who played for a long time in the fourth and third tier in England. From a hospital bed he followed the denouement of the final in which he himself had fallen out. Lockyer’s father shared a photo of his family cheering in hospital, a photo taken immediately after the decisive penalty and widely picked up.
“It felt like I had let the boys down. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet what we’ve achieved”
“When I started joking again in the hospital, my family realized that I was okay. It was difficult not being able to cheer with my teammates. We’ve had an exhausting season and I couldn’t celebrate with the boys. It felt like I had let the boys down, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet what we’ve achieved. It was our dream to get promoted and it doesn’t feel real yet,” said Lockyer.
