Luton Captain Tom Lockyer Urges Fans to Learn CPR After Cardiac Arrest Scare

Luton Captain Tom Lockyer Urges Fans to Learn CPR After Cardiac Arrest Scare

Premier League footballer emphasizes life-saving skills as part of World Heart Day campaign.

Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a match in December, is calling on football fans across the country to learn CPR. The 29-year-old collapsed mid-game against Bournemouth and is now teaming up with the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of the life-saving procedure.

Lockyer is encouraging supporters of all 72 English Football League (EFL) clubs to spend just 15 minutes learning CPR as part of World Heart Day on September 29. He believes this initiative could dramatically increase survival rates from cardiac arrests, which currently claim the lives of over 3,000 people in the UK annually, with less than 10% surviving due to lack of CPR knowledge.

“In the UK alone, 3,000 people will have a cardiac arrest each year and less than 10% of those will survive. That is purely on the basis that not enough people know CPR,” said Lockyer. “Imagine this is somebody you love and you’re helpless. You could save somebody’s life, and all it takes is 15 minutes online.”

Lockyer’s appeal coincides with CPR training led by the East of England Ambulance Service for players and staff at Peterborough United as part of Restart a Heart Day. Peterborough’s assistant manager, Kieran Scarff, explained how the Luton captain’s incident, along with the high-profile cases of Christian Eriksen and Fabrice Muamba, had a deep impact on their club.

“You see what happened to Tom, Eriksen, and Fabrice a few years back—it really brings it home. These are fit and healthy young people. You want to be in a position where, touch wood it doesn’t happen, but if it does, you can provide some sort of help,” Scarff said.

Players like Katie Gee and Jess Abrantes from Peterborough United Women also took part in the training, emphasizing the importance of staying calm during emergencies. Gee noted that she feels more confident knowing she could assist on the pitch in case of an emergency. Abrantes offered practical advice, saying, “Don’t panic when it happens, just stay calm and remember the whole technique.”

Lockyer’s mission is clear: to get as many people as possible trained in CPR to prevent further tragic losses. With World Heart Day approaching, he is using his platform to make a difference, encouraging others to act before it’s too late.

Tags: No tags

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *