Wales Manager Joins Forces with Lockyer in Urging Public to Learn Lifesaving Skills
Wales manager Rob Page has shown strong support for Tom Lockyer’s call to encourage people to learn CPR, after his squad underwent CPR and defibrillator training just months before Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.
Lockyer, 29, experienced a cardiac arrest during Luton’s Premier League match against Bournemouth in December, during which his heart stopped for nearly three minutes. His life was saved thanks to the quick intervention of medical staff, who performed CPR and used a defibrillator on him.
Following this experience, Lockyer has become an advocate for the British Heart Foundation’s campaign to promote CPR training and raise funds for vital medical research.
Page explained that his Wales squad participated in CPR and defibrillator training in September, just a few months prior to the life-saving event. “The medical team came in, and we did the class,” said Page. “Tom is leading the charge on this now, and rightly so. It serves as a reminder that there’s much more to life than just football.”
Lockyer returned to the scene of his cardiac arrest last Wednesday for Luton’s rescheduled match against Bournemouth. There, he met the medics who saved him and expressed his gratitude, admitting that it was an emotional experience. “They’re heroes,” he said.
Since the incident, Lockyer has had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted and acknowledged that his future in football is uncertain, as it is now “out of his hands” whether he will ever play again.
Despite this, Lockyer will be involved with Wales’ preparations for their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign next week. The team is set to face Finland in a crucial play-off semi-final in Cardiff on Thursday, with the winners advancing to play either Estonia or Poland for a spot in next summer’s tournament in Germany.
Page added: “I’ve had a good chat with Tom, and he’s keen to be part of it. We’re not sure yet about the details, but he’ll definitely be involved. It’s been tough for the lads who saw him collapse on the pitch, like Chris Mepham, Kieffer Moore, and David Brooks. I can only imagine how hard that was for them, but we’re all looking forward to having the group back together.”
