Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer says he is doing “very well” and “feeling very much myself” after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch earlier this month.

In his first statement since the incident during a match against Bournemouth, the 29-year-old footballer thanked “the players, staff, doctors and paramedics” for their “heroic actions”.

“I feel thankful that this happened to me surrounded by these heroes. They saved my life. I will never forget what you did for me,” he said.

Lockyer collapsed during the Premier League encounter at the Vitality Stadium on 16 December, leading to the abandonment and subsequent cancellation of the match at 1-1.

He was stretchered off surrounded by the medical team to a standing ovation from the crowd and given further treatment at the ground, before being taken to hospital.

In his statement, he said: “I have been overwhelmed by the support that I have received and thank you all for your messages, letters, gifts and well wishes.

“Seeing the banners at the ground and hearing my name being sung really did mean a lot to me and my family.”

The footballer praised his teammates, saying he feels “full of pride watching the boys carry on the battle without me”.

“The fighting spirit I’ve seen in the last three games has given me a much needed lift,” he said.

“I will be doing whatever I can in whichever ways are possible to help the Gaffer and the Club. In what capacity that is remains to be decided as I’m due to meet with specialists in the new year.”

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