LONDON – Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, who collapsed on the pitch while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020, has sent a message of support to Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer, who suffered a cardiac arrest during last weekend’s English Premier League game at Bournemouth.
The match on Dec 16 was abandoned in the 65th minute with the score at 1-1 after Lockyer collapsed on the pitch with no other player near him.
“Well first of all, I hope he’s okay,” playmaker Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest himself during Denmark’s Euro 2020 game against Finland in June 2021, told BetFred.
“I’ve read and seen what’s happened and I hope he’s okay, takes his time, is in a healthy way and his family are there to support him. I cross my fingers that he’s fine.
“My advice to him would be to make the best decision you can. Listen to the doctors and if (they) tell you to maybe do something else then respect that.
“There’s nothing that’s going to hold you back, but in the end, it all depends on how he’s feeling and what the doctors are saying.
“He has to make the decision with his family on what’s next, but he should take his time and focus on himself.”
The Welsh centre-back also collapsed in Luton’s promotion play-off final win over Coventry City in May and later had surgery to fix an atrial fibrillation, before he was given the green light to continue his playing career.
Eriksen, who said in an interview with the BBC in 2022 that he was “gone from this world for five minutes” after he was successfully revived on the pitch, has had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted in his body.
This device can reset the heart following a cardiac arrest.
Lockyer, now conscious, is still in hospital to undergo “tests and scans”.
There has been huge support for the defender, with the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust posting a video with the message: “Stay strong Tom Lockyer.”
Kevin Harper from the Trust said: “I don’t think football’s relevant right now. All we’re thinking about right now is Tom.”
Luton, meanwhile, said Lockyer is “awaiting the results before the next steps for his recovery are determined”.
A club source added that they will reviewing their medical procedures.
“This will be something we all look into more now. The physios, the club doctor, the specialists all did their work and worked with him in the summer and he was OK,” the source said.
“It’s just getting through this one test at a time.” REUTERS
