Tom Lockyer: Luton defender to link-up with Wales squad

Wales defender Tom Lockyer will spend some time with the Wales international squad before their Euro 2024 play-off semi-final with Finland.

Wales boss Rob Page wanted Lockyer to be involved with the squad to give his players a morale boost.

“I had a good conversation with Locks, he’ll be a part of it,” Page explained.

Luton Town defender Lockyer was resuscitated after his heart stopped beating for two minutes and 40 seconds in the game at Bournemouth in December, which was abandoned following his collapse.

Medics’ actions saved Lockyer’s life and he says he will not go against medical advice about resuming his career.

Lockyer was hospitalised for five days and was subsequently fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The defender was able to thank the medics who saved his life at Wednesday’s rearranged fixture, which Bournemouth won 4-3.

Wales boss Page felt it was natural that Lockyer would be part of the Wales camp, having played most recently for his country in November’s 1-1 draw with Turkey.

“We don’t know what days or for how long yet he will be with us,” Page said.

“But he’s keen to come in and we’re keen to have him around the lads.”

Wales players take CPR training

Lockyer has been “championing CPR courses at the minute, and rightly so,” according to boss Page, as he encourages others to learn CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] since his collapse.

It was the second time Lockyer had experienced a problem with his heart, after collapsing in the Hatters’ play-off final win against Coventry City at Wembley last May.

After minor surgery he was able to play again and captained Luton in the top flight – including scoring his first Premier League goal – before the second incident on 16 December at Vitality Stadium.

Record numbers of people have researched CPR since Lockyer talked about collapsing during a game.

Lockyer urged people to go to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) website and learn CPR in media interviews earlier this week. The BHF said staff had been “blown away” by the response.

One manager said “unprecedented numbers” had looked for an online CPR “tool”.

Some of Wales’ players are already familiar with CPR, having spent time with the FAW’s medical tutors to learn lifesaving CPR and defibrillator training last year.

“It was a very useful course for players and staff to get involved in, with many of us learning how to perform CPR for the first time,” captain Aaron Ramsey said.

“Less than half of adults in Wales are confident in performing CPR and how to use a defibrillator, but after receiving training I now feel that I could intervene should the situation arise.

“I would encourage everyone to learn the steps that could help save a life anywhere, anytime.”

‘More to life than football’

Lockyer’s collapse is the second time in a matter of years that Wales’ players have had to deal with a team-mate suffering with a medical issue.

Winger David Brooks was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while on Wales duty in 2021 after the team doctor ordered cancer tests after hearing about his sudden weight loss and night sweats.

Brooks was given the all-clear after 18 months of treatment, requiring fortnightly chemotherapy which left him “barely able to get out of bed”.

Wales boss Page says the health issues Brooks and now Lockyer have suffered only further develops the bond his players share in the dressing room.

“There’s more to life than football, and when you see them on camp, take football away from it, they’re a good group together, they are good mates,” he said.

Brooks, defender Chris Mepham and striker Kieffer Moore were all involved with the Bournemouth squad when Lockyer collapsed.

“I can only imagine how hard it was for Meps (Chris Mepham), Kieffer (Moore) and Brooksy (David Brooks) when they played that fixture and saw their mate on the floor like he was,” Page added.

“They’ve had contact straight after and they’ve been in touch since, but it’ll be nice to have them all back in the group together.

“Like I said, forget football, just being together as mates is powerful for them.”