Luton boss Rob Edwards says the on-pitch cardiac arrest suffered by Tom Lockyer at Bournemouth last weekend was the scariest moment of his life.
Luton captain Lockyer, 29, collapsed in the second half and was taken to hospital, with the match abandoned.
He was discharged on Thursday having had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device fitted.
“It was the scariest moment I have ever had, never mind in football,” said Edwards.
“The medical guys were incredible. It was a crazy pressurised situation with the world watching and they got every decision bang on. I’m so proud of them. They saved him.
“Our medical guys, Bournemouth’s, the paramedics that were there, they are real heroes.”
Luton chief executive Gary Sweet also praised the actions of the medical professionals who treated Lockyer.
“It took two minutes from the point of going down to be resuscitated. It’s impressive, the actions of those protocols which ultimately saved him,” he said.
“They are all heroes. We cannot thank them enough.”
Sweet added that dealing with the incident this week has been a learning experience for everyone at the club.
“We’ve never done this before. It’s all learning for us. It’s thrown so many challenges our way and it’s been one very big challenge this week. This has all been about team spirit and gathering around Tom,” he said.
“The fact he was being taken home by people we know and was in safe hands gave us a sense of relief.”
An ICD is a small battery-powered device placed in the chest, that detects and stops irregular heartbeats. It delivers electric shocks, when needed, to restore a regular heart rhythm.
Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind and current Red Devils midfielder Christian Eriksen have both been fitted with the device in recent years and been able to continue playing.
Luton said Lockyer’s cardiac arrest was different to his previous collapse in the Championship play-off final in May when he suffered atrial fibrillation – a condition the NHS describes as causing “an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate” – but was given the all-clear to return to playing in June following heart surgery.
Edwards says it is “too early to tell” what impact his latest collapse will have on his playing career.
“He’s recovering, it’s baby steps now. Anyone will miss him. He’s a leader, he’s an inspirational figure for all of us,” Edwards told a news conference.
“It’s too early to tell [on Lockyer’s playing career]. Going forward it’s about Tom recovering. He’s had an operation and then we’ll see going forward what that means.”
Edwards says the squad are ready to “do it for Locks” when they return to Premier League action against Newcastle on Saturday, though he says the players are not exploiting Lockyer’s situation for their own gain.
“I’ve been careful not to be seen to be using it. It is about what Locks would want,” he said.
“We are a tight-knit group, we have to look after each other and come together even more than we already are.
“We do want to do it for Locks, but that’s coming from the right place as well. It can’t be selfish and I’ve been really keen to stress that.”
