Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer urges fans to learn CPR
A footballer who survived a cardiac arrest during a match has urged all supporters to learn CPR.
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer, 29, collapsed during a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December.
Now he wants supporters of all 72 English Football League (EFL) clubs to learn CPR in 15 minutes as part of World Heart Day on 29 September.
His appeal came as players and staff at Peterborough United were taught CPR skills by the East of England Ambulance Service.
Lockyer, who has played for the Welsh national side since 2017, said he had teamed up with the British Heart Foundation charity to get as many people to learn CPR as possible because “it really does save lives”.
CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating.
Lockyer said: “In the UK alone, 3,000 people will have a cardiac arrest each year and less than 10% of those will survive. That is purely on the basis that not enough people know CPR.
“Imagine this is somebody you love and you’re helpless. You could save somebody’s life and all it takes is 15 minutes online.”
Peterborough United took part in CPR training as part of Restart a Heart Day, an annual initiative led by the Resuscitation Council UK, which also aims to teach more people CPR.
Kieran Scarff, Peterborough United’s assistant manager said what happened to the Luton captain had inspired the team to get involved.
He said: “You see what happened to Tom, Eriksen and Fabrice a few years back – it really brings it home, these are fit and healthy young people.
“You want it be in a position where, touch wood it doesn’t happen, but if it does you can provide some sort of help.”
Katie Gee, of Peterborough United Women, also took part in the training.
She said she would feel more confident helping on a pitch “if there were people around”.
Her teammate, Jess Abrantes, described one of the CPR tips she had been given.
She said: “Don’t panic when it happens, just stay calm and remember the whole technique.”
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