Rob Edwards praised the emergency services for saving Tom Lockyer’s life (Picture: Getty)
An emotional Rob Edwards said it was too early to tell what Tom Lockyer’s footballing future looked like as the Luton boss spoke for the first time since his captain suffered a cardiac arrest.
Lockyer has since returned home after his collapse in the second half last weekend against Bournemouth, which led to the match being abandoned.
The 29-year-old, who also collapsed in the 11th minute of the Championship Play-off final in May after suffering an atrial fibrillation, has since undergone surgery to have an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device fitted.
Speaking to the club media, Edwards described it as ‘the scariest moment I’ve ever had’ and reiterated his gratitude for the emergency services for their work as he recounted the incident.
‘I won’t be able to articulate all my feelings. I sensed something was different this time to May – it was then about raising the alarm and trying to clear the area and let the medics do their job,’ he added at his pre-match press conference.
‘While I’m on that topic, wow, didn’t they do their jobs. They saved him, and made every decision bang on, with everyone watching. They’re heroes.
‘It’s not the second time it’s happened to him, in May it was an atrial fibrillation, this was a cardiac arrest, and it’s too early to tell why and going forward.
Tom Lockyer has been released from hospital and has had a defibrillator fitted (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s about him recovering. He’s had the operation now with the ICD fitted, it’s about recovery and we’ll see going forward what that means.’
Luton’s game against Bournemouth will be rescheduled for later in the season and Edwards said that both clubs will have a ‘special bond’ going forward.
‘I need to say thank you to everyone at Bournemouth, Andoni (Iraola), his staff and the players themselves,’ Edwards added.
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‘A special mention to Phillip Billing who reacted incredibly quickly and David Brooks and his partner who know Tom well, saw his family and really comforted them.’
Luton host Newcastle on Saturday as they look to end a three-match losing streak and close the gap to Nottingham Forest in 17th.
MORE : Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer discharged from hospital after cardiac arrest
Tom Lockyer has since been discharged from hospital.