Tom Lockyer: Cardiac arrest defender returns to football after Bristol Rovers deal

Tom Lockyer will resume his football career almost two years after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match after signing a one-year contract with Bristol Rovers.

The 30-year-old Wales defender is training with the League Two club after returning to fitness after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Luton in a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December 2023.

Lockyer returns to the club where he began his professional career six years after leaving to join Charlton Athletic.

He moved to Luton in 2020 and helped the club win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2023, although the win at Wembley was marred by the collapse Lockyer suffered during the match.

He returned to action later that year before suffering a cardiac arrest against Bournemouth.

“It feels really good to be a Bristol Rovers player again,” Lockyer told the club website.

“Obviously I’ve been training here for a while and I tried not to think too much about it or get too excited about the possibilities and possibilities.

“But once I knew it, Darryl [Clarke, Bristol Rovers head coach] I wanted to accomplish something, and it was easy for me to decide to go home.

“It’s very hard to explain, but it’s everything I’ve worked so hard for over the last two years.

“I hope I have many, many good memories in a football shirt. I will celebrate the little victories on the football field and I just want to enjoy them. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”

“I do it because I love playing football and I have a huge desire to play football again, and there is no better place to do that than back home at Bristol Rovers.”

Clarke added: “I’m delighted to have Tom back with us. He’s a boy I have a lot of admiration for, even more so after everything he and his family have been through in the last two years.”

“I have always believed that Lux has the potential to reach the highest level and he has proven that, by playing in the Premier League with Luton Town, and his application and work rate embodies everything I know fans love in our players.”

“It was great to have him on the training pitch, and he’s already settled into the group well. It will be great to see him back in the blue and white.”