On May 27th, 2023, and December 16th 2023 Luton captain Tom Lockyer hard a cardiac arrest while playing football. As a result of these incidents, he has teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to create a website to teach people how to perform CPR. https://www.bhf.org.uk/revivr
This is also because Tom’s experience highlights the importance of CPR. Every 90 minutes – the length of a football match – at least five people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Tom has also made a video expressing how he feels about his cardiac arrests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36GzpztRi4g
The British Heart Foundation said this about Tom Lockyer’s Cardiac arrest “We’re touched to share Tom Lockyer’s story, captain of Luton Town, whose life was saved thanks to CPR. In December, Tom experienced a cardiac arrest while playing in the Premier League. Thanks to the swift actions of his teammates and medical staff, he’s here today.”
Tom’s first cardiac arrest was due to Atrial Fibrillation which is when the electrical impulses in your top two chambers (the atria) release blood chaotically when they should be steady and regular, causing them to quiver or twitch (fibrillation).
A way to cope with this is medication such as beta blockers and anti-arrhythmic, drugs ablation, cardioversion or having a pacemaker fitted and other education on these topics. All of this has come from the BHF (British Heart Foundation).
It could also associate to other conditions such as Asthma, Lung Cancer, and Pulmonary Embolism. Pulmonary Embolism is when a blood vessel is blocked by a blood clot.
“I feel thankful that this happened to me surrounded by these heroes. They saved my life. I will never forget what you did for me.” stated Tom. Concerns over Lockyer’s health emerged after he collapsed in the Championship playoff final victory against Coventry in May, leading him to have surgery to correct an atrial fibrillation.
In December Phillip Billing saved Lockyer’s life. He did this by being the first player to notice him on the ground and stopping play to get medical staff out for him.
By Taylor & Joel Yr9
Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford
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Brilliant article and an important issue to highlight!