Tom Lockyer completes emotional return to football almost TWO years after suffering a cardiac arrest - as he makes his first start for Bristol Rovers

Tom Lockyer has made his emotional return to football at Bristol Rovers, 22 months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during a Premier League match.

Lockyer, 30, was named in the starting lineup against Crawley Town on Saturday afternoon and received a warm reception at Broadfield Stadium as he completed his football comeback.

Former Luton Town captain Lockyer collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Hatters' away trip to Bournemouth on December 16, 2023 and needed medical intervention in order to save his life.

Lockyer, who was 29 at the time, described in the aftermath how he 'literally died', with his heart stopping for two minutes and 41 seconds during the harrowing incident. 

Despite facing an uncertain future in football, the defender has since been fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to regulate his abnormal heart rhythm. 

After being released by Luton in the summer — and told he could continue to use the club's facilities as he continued his rehabilitation — the 30-year-old star joined Bristol Rovers as a free agent on Thursday, returning after making over 250 appearances there at the start of his career.

Lockyer was thrown straight into Rovers' starting XI for Saturday's League Two clash against Crawley, just two days after sealing his return to the club.

 'It feels really, really good to once again be a Bristol Rovers player,' he said upon signing his new deal.

'Obviously I've been training here for a while and I've tried not to think too much about it or get too excited about the ifs, buts and maybes.

'But as soon as I knew that Darrell [Clarke, Bristol Rovers head coach] wanted to get something done, it was easy for me to then make a decision about coming back home.

'It is so hard to explain but it's everything I've worked so hard for over the last two years.

'Hopefully I can have many, many more good memories in a football shirt.

'I wouldn't be doing this otherwise. I'm doing this because I love playing football and I've got that massive desire to play football again, and what better place to do that than back home at Bristol Rovers.' 

The match between Bournemouth and Luton was abandoned as a result of Lockyer's worrying cardiac arrest.

Former Luton manager Rob Edwards immediately ran on to the pitch after Lockyer collapsed to the turf, while both sets of players appeared visibly distressed as paramedics and medical staff attended to the footballer. 

Lockyer's emotional return comes after a tricky recovery period for defender, who was due to return for Luton's Under-21 side last December, only to damage his ankle ligaments and undergo multiple operations.

Lockyer became a father in March last year, three months after suffering the cardiac arrest, and has since spoken about how his daughter gave him a new perspective on life.

'I'm so lucky to still be here and in her life,' he said. 'When I hold her now, it's just amazing. The feeling and love you have for your child is incredibly strong and mine is even stronger now. 

'I am just so thankful I am here to see her grow, see her change, smile and you know, be sick on me. I just love it. I am incredibly fortunate. I can't stress that enough.'