Tom Lockyer has been named in the starting XI for Bristol Rovers against Crawley Town on Saturday, marking his first appearance since he suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2023, reports BritPanorama.
The Wales international collapsed while playing for Luton against Bournemouth, prompting immediate medical intervention that saved his life.
This week, the 30-year-old joined Rovers after his contract with Luton expired, transitioning from a period of uncertainty back into competitive football.
He has been integrated directly into his new side as they aim to recover from previous defeats to Bristol Rovers and MK Dons.
Prior to the match, Lockyer expressed his happiness at returning to the team where his career began. “It feels really, really good to once again be a Bristol Rovers player,” he stated. “I’ve tried not to think too much about it or get too excited about the ifs, buts and maybes.”
He relayed, “As soon as I knew that Darrell [Clarke, Bristol Rovers head coach] wanted to get something done, it was easy for me to then make a decision about coming back home. It is hard to explain, but it’s everything I’ve worked so hard for over the last two years.”
Lockyer remarked he aims to celebrate the small victories of returning to professional play. His desire to engage with football once more is palpable, and he is animated about his prospects at Bristol Rovers.
Reflecting on his experience last December, Lockyer described a moment of intense disorientation and fear. “I literally died but I have been numb to the whole thing since,” he recounted. “I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t move. It was a surreal thought to have, not being able to respond, and you can see the panic going on.”
After a five-day hospital stay during which he received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Lockyer is set to continue his career, relieved yet proud to return to the pitch.
As sport often reminds us, the journey can be as unpredictable as the game itself, and Lockyer’s return is a testament to resilience — a narrative threading through the fabric of football, sometimes intertwining with life’s harshest realities.
