Luton captain Tom Lockyer feared he 'let the team down' when he collapsed during play-off final win over Coventry in May - as old interview resurfaces just days after he suffered cardiac arrest

Tom Lockyer said he felt like a let-down to his Luton team-mates after collapsing with a heart issue during the play-off final in May.

A touching interview with the Hatters captain speaking about the play-off tragedy has re-emerged after he suffered a cardiac arrest against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Vitality Stadium was solemn when Lockyer fell to the turf for the second time in seven months during Luton's visit to Bournemouth.

Players surrounded the centre-back as he lay on the turf, Luton manager Rob Edwards was in tears, and the match was later abandoned. 

Luton said he was 'responsive' and in a 'stable' condition before he was taken to hospital, where he has undergone tests and scans.  

Now a clip has resurfaced of Lockyer talking about his collapse in May. He said: 'Walking out with the boys and I just remember it being so hot. We were warming up in the sun. I just remember thinking "wow." 

'I remember, in the warm-up, trying to go and find the shade and warm up in the shaded bit and looking over at Coventry in the shaded bit and thinking, "that's unfair."

'Game started, Viktor Gyokerez for Coventry, one of the best strikers in the league, strong, fast, and everything, so I just thought early doors, win your first individual battles against him, so I did. 

'I was just like, "look, this is the perfect start here." Kept keeping him quiet, we're going to have a good day. And then I just remember, the ball went into Gabe [Osho], he's given it away, as I'm backpedalling, my head went really lightheaded and then my legs went like jelly almost instantly. 

'I remember falling backwards, Next thing I know, I woke up, there were paramedics all around me on the turf. And I remember waking up from a dream. I couldn't tell you what the dream was about, but I just remember having a dream. 

'The paramedics, the physios are there, and they just said: "Locks, can you hear me?" I'm like, "yeah."

'And as soon as I came round I was sweet again. They're like, "Locks, you're coming off." I was like, "No, no, I'm fine, like I'm good." 

'He's like, "Lox, you've just collapsed on the pitch."

'And then it just went like, wow, why am I the floor? And I had no idea how I was on the floor. 

'And it was that realisation then, bang, your game is done, your season is done, you can have no influence on this game now. It was a weird feeling of let down, like I was letting the team down. 

'I know there was nothing I could have controlled but just in that moment, all these emotions going on, and I just couldn't stop crying on that stretcher. I had the oxygen mask on, just could not stop crying.'   

A review into medical protocol is expected at Luton following Lockyer's second mid-match collapse of 2023. 

Lockyer was given the all-clear to return to football in June, the month after his first collapse with a heart issue. 

Mail Sport understands that decision will now be reviewed once medical experts have further information on the cause of Saturday's incident at the Vitality Stadium in Luton's match against Bournemouth.

A source close to the player said: 'This will be something we all look into more now. The physios, the club doctor, the specialists all did their work and worked with him in the summer and he was OK.

'It's just getting through this one test at a time. Comparing it to the summer will be something that happens when we know what went on on Saturday.'

The match between Bournemouth and Luton will be replayed in its entirety, with a date and kick-off time to be arranged by the top-flight's Board.