LUTON Town have shared a club statement following the abandonment of their Premier League clash with Cherries.
Play at Vitality Stadium was halted shortly after the hour mark after Luton’s captain Tom Lockyer went down off the ball.
After initially waiting pitchside, both teams returned to the dressing rooms as Cherries and Luton supporters joined in chants singing Lockyer’s name.
Following 10 minutes of treatment, the Welsh international was stretched off, before it was announced that the game had been abandoned, with scores locked a 1-1.
Posting on X, Luton’s initial statement read: “We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.
“We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
“We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.
“We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time.
“Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family.
“Our thoughts are with him and them all.”
A later statement from Luton read: "Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.
"He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.
"Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside.
"We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks."
After the Tannoy announcement that the match had been abandoned, both sets of players lapped the pitch of Vitality Stadium to applaud all four stands for their understanding.
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