Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match in December, has urged the nation to learn CPR this Heart Month.
The 29-year-old collapsed during a Premier League game against Bournemouth on 16 December last year, with bystanders and club medics rushing to perform CPR and provide early defibrillation.
The Welshman said it was thanks to these quick actions that his life was saved and is now backing our campaign to get the nation to learn CPR this Heart Month, as well as raise funds for lifesaving research.
Every 90 minutes – the length of a football match – at least five people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This equates to more than 30,000 a year. Tragically, less than one in ten people survive, often because those around them don’t have the confidence to perform CPR or use a defibrillator.
Tom, who is about to become a dad for the first time, said if everyone affected by his story learned CPR then more people would have a better chance of survival. We estimate that as many as 23 million UK adults have never learnt these lifesaving skills.
‘I woke from nothingness’
“I’m an example of the power of CPR, and how it can save lives. I’m so grateful to the people who saved my life, and that I can have special moments with my family like our baby coming very soon,” he said.
The Hatters defender recalled his memories of 16 December. Tom said: “On that day in December, I remember jogging up to the halfway line and becoming light headed. I then woke up from a nothingness on the floor and I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak.
“Eventually I was able to move and speak. Without the people who reacted quickly by performing CPR and using a defibrillator, I wouldn’t be here today and waiting for my little girl to come into the world.”
Tom spent five days in hospital and had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device fitted.
“I have so much to be thankful for. I have my health which is the main thing and I’m really looking forward to the future. If there’s a chance I could be back playing then I would love to,” he added.
The footballer urged the nation to learn CPR to help save a life in the ultimate medical emergency.
“This Heart Month, I’m calling on everyone to learn CPR with the BHF’s RevivR training tool,” he said.
“It takes just 15 minutes and you could learn how to potentially save a life. With at least five people in the UK suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every 90 minutes, learning lifesaving CPR can give you the confidence to step in during an emergency.”
Learn CPR with RevivR
Our free online training tool RevivR can teach CPR and how to use a defibrillator in just 15 minutes. Quick CPR and defibrillation can more the double the chances of survival in the ultimate medical emergency.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, our Chief Executive, said: “Late last year, thousands of us across the country witnessed Tom collapse on the pitch and willed him to make a recovery. It is incredible to know that thanks to prompt CPR and defibrillation Tom’s life was saved and it makes it even more poignant to know that he will be here for the birth of his little girl.
“But not everybody is as fortunate, and that’s why we’re urging everyone to learn CPR to help improve survival rates and save more lives. We owe it to Tom and to future generations to ensure that everyone has the skill to help save a life.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Tom for using his platform to encourage the nation to learn CPR while supporting the British Heart Foundation this Heart Month.”
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