Tom Lockyer gives update on football return as he continues his recovery from a cardiac arrest... and opens up on the impact of his baby girl

Tom Lockyer says he has made peace with never playing football again if doctors tell him to quit following his cardiac arrest.

The Luton captain's heart stopped for more than two-and-a-half minutes during a game at Bournemouth in December, seven months after he collapsed at Wembley in the Championship play-off final victory over Coventry.

'A decision over whether I play again or not is further down the line. But, at any stage, the cardiologist could say you can't play again', Lockyer said at the launch of the Every Minute Matters campaign - a year-long partnership between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation to inspire the nation to learn life-saving CPR.

'I am at peace with that though if that is to happen. I'd just look at it as a positive that I am still here, not that I can't play again.

'A decision is out of my hands. I would love to play again, I've made no secret in saying that but it would have to be done safely.

'I feel safer than I've ever felt before. I've got a defibrillator in my side. Ultimately the decision is not with me.

'I'm incredibly fortunate to have had a 10-year career that saw me play in every league, non-League, to the Premier League and scored in every one. I've got 14 caps for Wales too. It's more than I ever thought.' 

The 29-year-old became a father earlier this year and opened up on treasuring spending time with his baby daughter. A precious experience he feared he might not get.

'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.' 

And Lockyer admitted that trying to hide his emotions has helped him cope with the traumatic events of the last year.

'I think it is a little bit of a coping mechanism, not getting emotional and not thinking about it. It's probably my shield in a way,' he said. 

'I've never really been one for much emotion any way but I do think as a professional athlete, you have a way of dealing with adversities, setbacks, losses, getting dropped and all these sort of things. 

'You are able to compartmentalise a little bit. Of course there have been things that have flared it up but on the whole, I've coped with it really well. I think I am incredibly fortunate in that sense.'

Tom Lockyer was speaking at the launch of the Every Minute Matters campaign, a year-long partnership between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation to inspire the nation to learn life-saving CPR. Learn CPR in 15 minutes for free with RevivR™