Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Tom Lockyer LIVE: Defender ‘suffered cardiac arrest’ during collapse on pitch in Bournemouth vs Luton

Luton centre-back Lockyer suffered a similar incident during the Championship play-off final earlier this year

Luke Baker
Saturday 16 December 2023 18:55 GMT
Comments
(REUTERS)

Luton’s Premier League match at Bournemouth was abandoned following a medical incident involving Hatters defender Tom Lockyer.

Lockyer was attended to by paramedics and staff in the second half, when the score was 1-1 with the clock paused at 65 minutes. The defender was removed from the field of play on a stretcher surrounded by the medical team, and there was a standing ovation from the crowd.

After the players were taken off, the Premier League confirmed the match had been abandoned and Luton later stated he had “suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher” and he was taken to hospital.

Lockyer had previously collapsed on the pitch during last season’s Championship play-off final against Coventry City. It then emerged that the 28-year-old suffered an atrial fibrillation, a condition that can cause an irregular or abnormally fast heart rate but had surgery to fix the issue.

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Bournemouth retain possession well inside Luton's defensive third, with Kerkez switching the play over to Tavernier, who taps it across to Christie. He looks for space to shoot before finding Kluivert with a pass down the left, but his cross is poor, and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.

16 December 2023 16:11

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Adebayo goes to the floor holding his head, with the referee stopping the play. However, he quickly gets back to his feet and the game continues.

16 December 2023 16:08

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Tavernier looks to turn into the provider this time as he slides a pass back to Cook. The Bournemouth midfielder pushes past Barkley on his way into the box but lofts his effort well over.

16 December 2023 16:07

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Christie approaches the edge of the box before rolling a pass back to Tavernier. He cuts the ball onto his left foot and looks to curl a shot towards the goal, but it is straight at Kaminski.

16 December 2023 16:06

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

This is just the second time Luton have led at half-time away from home in the Premier League this season, after also leading Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park in September, with the score remaining the same at full-time.

16 December 2023 16:04

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Townsend gets the ball rolling for Luton. No changes for the Hatters at the break.

16 December 2023 16:03

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Iraola has decided to make a change with Bournemouth behind. Billing comes on for Semenyo, who was struggling to get involved on the left side of the pitch.

16 December 2023 16:03

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Luton hadn't scored or conceded in the first 15 minutes of a match this season, but that changed when Adebayo found the net with his header inside three minutes. The Hatters have only had three shots and one on target, accumulating an xG (expected goals) of 0.37, but they have had better individual opportunities than Bournemouth. The Cherries have had 57 per cent of possession, but only two of their eight attempts have been on target, with Kaminski making two simple stops.

16 December 2023 15:56

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

Adebayo scored the only goal in the first half to give Luton a 1-0 lead over Bournemouth heading the break. Doughty's inswinging corner from the right found the head of the striker, who nodded his effort into the top corner to score his fifth Premier League goal of the season. Kerkez was causing a few problems down the left, with Solanke nodding his header into Kaminski's gloves. Adebayo then lashed a first-time shot from the right side of the box well over before Tavernier had his drilled effort from the edge saved.

16 December 2023 15:52

AFC Bournemouth vs Luton Town

HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 LUTON TOWN

16 December 2023 15:48

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in