Tom Lockyer hails nation's response to Sky Bet-British Heart Foundation campaign Every Minute Matters after record-breaking start... as 23,000 people sign up for life-saving CPR training

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Tom Lockyer has hailed the nation's response to the 'Every Minute Matters' campaign, which seeks to educate people on potentially life-saving CPR training. 

Luton Town captain Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest back in December during a game, having already suffered an atrial flutter in the Championship play-off final the summer before. 

The Wales international's life was saved by the use of CPR and defibrillation in December, and he has since been fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device following five days in hospital. 

Lockyer is part of a group of former and current football stars fronting the 'Every Minute Matters' campaign with the aim of recruiting 270,000 people to learn CPR in just 12 months, equipping more and more people with the skills to potentially save somebody's life. 

The Sky Bet-British Heart Foundation campaign launched on May 1, and has seen some 23,000 people step up to learn the skills - a staggering 458 per cent increase on the previous month - and Lockyer was quick to praise the 'transformational' progress already made. 

Luton star Tom Lockyer praised the nation's response to the Every Minute Matters campaign 

Lockyer's heart stopped for more than two-and-a-half minutes during a match in December

A star-studded line-up of people involved in football come together for a lifesaving campaign

'The response we've seen to the 'Every Minute Matters' campaign is nothing short of transformational,' the campaign ambassador said. 

'The numbers speak for themselves, in just seven days we've inspired thousands of people to go online and start learning CPR – that's thousands of people who could one day go on to save a life.'

'If I've learned anything in the last 12 months, it's that it's impossible to overstate the importance of learning CPR – I simply wouldn't be here if the people around me hadn't acted promptly to administer CPR and defibrillation when I collapsed.'

Sky Bet have so far raised £150,000 to support the BHF's work, with £10,000 pledged per goal in the opening round of the EFL play-offs.  

'Using the Play-Offs to drive awareness is just the beginning,' Lockyer continued. 'We want over a quarter of a million people to learn this life saving skill over the course of the next 12 months.'

Sky Bet hopes to raise as much as £3million in support of the BHF over the course of the campaign, and the BHF's website in fact received a record number of interactions on May 2, the day after the campaign's launch. 

Lockyer is joined by a raft of fellow football stars including Graeme Souness, David Ginola and Glenn Hoddle, in the campaign as part of a 'Re-starting XI' - a one-off team including Fabrice Muamba, Derby County defender Megan Tinsley and Wigan Athletic striker Charlie Wyke.

The all-star team of former and current professional players have all shared stories following their scary experiences with their own heart conditions – and now want to give the nation the skills to save lives if they ever find themselves in the middle of a medical emergency.

Luton Town captain Lockyer has spoken of the importance of CPR and his future in football

Members of the Re-Starting XI team, including Lockyer (centre) seen during a photo shoot

The 'Re-Starting 11' also features football fans who have either survived a cardiac arrest or have saved someone's life.

Souness, who was diagnosed with coronary heart disease in his 30s, said: 'When it comes to cardiac arrest every minute really does matter. If someone collapses you can't hesitate, you need to take immediate action. That's where CPR training comes in, it gives you the skills and confidence to take action when it matters most.

'The fact that so many people have already registered to learn CPR in little under a week says it all. People want to make a difference. Our job is to get the word out and turn 20,000 people into an army of over a quarter of a million lifesavers.'

British Heart Foundation chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: 'Our partnership with Sky Bet has the clear goal of saving lives – and it’s fantastic that nearly 23,000 people have used RevivR to begin learning lifesaving skills just one week since we’ve launched.

'Every minute matters when someone has a cardiac arrest, and being able to step in and perform CPR could be the difference between life and death. That’s why along with Sky Bet we’re urging everyone to take 15 minutes – the length of a half-time interval – to learn this skill through RevivR.'

Lockyer'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.

He is still yet to be told whether or not he can return to his career as an elite professional footballer, although he told Mail Sport that he was 'at peace' with being told he must hang up his boots.  

'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 told Mail Sport.

Mail Sport's Graeme Souness bravely opened up on the effects his heart condition had on him

Spurs icon David Ginola (right) and Fabrice Muamba (left) are also a part of the good cause

Graeme Souness (left) and Glenn Hoddle (right picture, right) lead the British Heart Foundation and Sky Bet-led 'Every Minute Matters' campaign aims to inspire the nation to learn 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.' 

Souness also bravely opened up on the effects his heart condition had on him, revealing how he found it difficult to process discovering he was suffering from coronary heart disease before having open heart surgery just days later.

'When you're young you think you're invincible,' Souness told Mail Sport. 'I lived the life of a professional footballer and most of the time I ate well, exercised vigorously. I wasn't a big drinker of alcohol.

'So when it happened to me it was like being punched on the nose. I was diagnosed on the Thursday and when I got off the table I said: "when can you do [my operation]" and they [performed surgery] on the Tuesday.

'When you come out of hospital, you're fearful. And I'm happy to say this, I would get emotional for no reason at all. And that is not me. I would have tears running down my eyes three or four times when I eventually came out of hospital.'

'It's a traumatic thing,' Souness added. 'It took me maybe the best part of a year to get over it. You know you're cleaning your teeth, and you can't help but glance down to your chest and you see not a terribly attractive scar there. 

Liverpool icon Souness, pictured here at Sampdoria after a medical in 1984, was diagnosed with coronary heart disease in his 30s

Souness (pictured in 1993) has had several operations and has suffered from a heart attack

'It's a little reminder all the time that no one is invincible - I was 38 at the time thinking, "this shouldn't happen to me" but it did. The fact it happened to me, given the lifestyle I had, having been a professional athlete, it can happen to anyone.' 

There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, equating to at least five every 90 minutes. Each minute that passes without CPR reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent.

And tragically, less than one in 10 people survive often because those around them lack the skills or confidence to perform CPR.

Every Minute Matters will urge everyone to take just 15 minutes to learn CPR with RevivR, the British Heart Foundation's free digital tool. 

MEET THE 'RE-STARTING XI' 

The ‘Re-Starting 11’ is an team of former and current professional players and fans who will share their own personal stories and experiences to help give people the confidence and skills to tackle the medical emergencies. The team includes:

Graeme Souness (Manager)

The Liverpool legend, who played and managed the Reds, and Mail Sport columnist was diagnosed with coronary heart disease after three of his arteries were blocked. 

Throughout his life, Souness has undergone several operations and has suffered from a heart attack.

Glenn Hoddle (co-manager)

The Tottenham icon, who went on to manage Spurs, Chelsea and England, suffered a cardiac arrest in October 2018 shortly after filming in the BT Sport studio. Hoddle’s life was saved by sound engineer Simon Daniels who administered CPR and utilised the on-set defibrillator.

Tom Lockyer

The Welsh international footballer who collapsed playing for Luton Town during last year’s EFL Championship play-off final. Lockyer experienced an atrial flutter and underwent a procedure to treat it. 

After being given the all clear to return to football, he suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December 2023. 

His life was saved by club medics who rushed to perform CPR and provide early defibrillation. Lockyer was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator after he was hospitalised for five days.

Fabrice Muamba

The former Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers midfielder, suffered a cardiac arrest in 2012 during a televised FA Cup match. Fabrice’s heart stopped beating for a harrowing 78-minutes as medical staff on the pitch, including a cardiologist in the crowd, battled to save his life. 

Rushed to the hospital, Muamba defied all expectations by making a recovery. The cause of Fabrice’s cardiac arrest was an undetected heart condition which forced him to retire from professional football. 

His story has become a powerful testament to the importance of heart health awareness and Fabrice continues to campaign alongside BHF.

David Ginola

The Newcastle and Spurs icon collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest in a charity game in the South of France in 2016. 

Ginola’s heart stopped for eight minutes and his life was saved thanks to the swift actions of his friend and former professional footballer Frederic Mendy who performed CPR until medics arrived with a defibrillator.

Charlie Wyke

In November 2021, the Wigan Athletic striker suffered a cardiac arrest during training and his heart stopped beating for four minutes. 

Wyke’s life was saved thanks to immediate action by then Wigan boss Leam Richardson who performed CPR until club doctor Jonathan Tobin took over. 

He now has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to monitor his heart rhythm.

Megan Tinsley

Derby County defender, Megan Tinsley was diagnosed with atrial septal defect (ASD) at the age of three - a condition in which there is a hole between the two collecting chambers of the heart - and had surgery two years later to address the issue.

Following continued chest pains while playing football, Tinsley put her career on hold and had an implantable loop recorder (ILR) placed in her chest to monitor her heart rhythm and rate. Tinsley recently resumed her playing career for Derby County.

Claire Bailey

Doncaster Rovers employee Clare Bailey went to the GP with a suspected chest infection. The GP referred her to Doncaster Royal Infirmary where Bailey subsequently had a cardiac arrest. 

Following two weeks in a coma, Bailey underwent an urgent heart transplant in Manchester. She made a successful recovery and is now back working at the club she loves.

Doncaster Rovers employee Clare Bailey underwent an urgent heart transplant in Manchester and has since made a successful recovery

Adam Dodd

Adam Dodd is a semi-professional footballer who suffered a cardiac arrest at home. His life was saved by his girlfriend Kat who took decisive action and performed CPR until Paramedics arrived. 

Dodd was taken to Blackpool hospital and put into an induced coma for four days. He made a successful recovery and is now fitted with an S-ICD and is back playing football again.

Lukas Jonassen

Amateur footballer Lukas Jonassen suffered a cardiac arrest while playing six-a-side at North Kesteven Leisure Centre in Lincoln. His life was saved by a member of the opposite team, Tom Dunning, who performed CPR on him. 

Dunning kept Jonassen alive for 15 minutes until the paramedics took over and he was taken to Lincoln hospital. Jonassen made a full recovery.

Lee Stevenson

Sunderland fan Lee Stevenson’s life was saved by his fiancée and Newcastle United fan Amy Stevenson after he had a cardiac arrest at home. Amy bravely administered CPR while waiting for paramedics. 

Lee survived and has made a good recovery. Amy and Lee are now proud parents to two-year-old Alice and are expecting their second child.

Andrew Barnett

Cardiff City fan Andrew Barnett was playing in a dads vs kids game when he suffered a cardiac arrest. 

His life was saved by leisure centre duty manager Ben Clarke who administered CPR and swimming teacher Sheila Mott who prepped the defibrillator. 

Barnett was treated for a blocked coronary artery with a stent and has since made a good recovery.

Nick Thomas

Everton fan Nick Thomas, 46, had a cardiac arrest playing regular Thursday night football in Oxfordshire last August. 

Thomas’s life was saved by the quick-thinking of three of his team-mates who gave CPR and used a defibrillator to bring him back.

Back row (left to right): Graeme Souness, Andrew Barnett, Megan Tinsley, Lukas Jonassen, Clare Bailey, Adam Dodd, Lee Stephenson, Glenn Hoddle. Front row: (left to right): Nick Thomas, Charlie Wyke, Fabrice Muamba, David Ginola, Tom Lockyer