Touching moment Tom Lockyer’s team-mate Issa Kabore drops to his knees to pray after Luton captain suffered cardiac arrest during match

This is the touching moment that Tom Lockyer’s team-mate Issa Kabore dropped to his knees and started praying after the Luton captain collapsed on the pitch during yesterday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth.

Lockyer, 29, suffered a cardiac arrest midway through the second half at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium but Luton’s medical staff have confirmed that he is now in a ‘stable’ condition and is being treated in hospital.

The Welsh defender also collapsed during Luton’s Championship play-off final win against Coventry in May but was subsequently given the all-clear to return to playing a month later after undergoing heart surgery. 

Following yesterday’s terrifying incident, Luton manager Rob Edwards immediately ran on to the pitch, with both sets of players visibly distressed as paramedics and medical staff attended to Lockyer before the match was abandoned.

Footage has now emerged of Luton and Burkino Faso right-back Kabore praying with his hands held out in front of him as his team-mate received urgent treatment.

Another photo also captured the emotional moment Kabore knelt town by the side of the pitch and continued his prayers as the ground fell silent and fearful fans – some left in tears – hoped for the best.

Luton defender TomLockyer (p[aying against Bournemouth yesterday before he collapsed), 29, suffered a cardiac arrest early on in the second half but Luton’s medical staff have confirmed that he is now in a ‘stable’ condition and is being treated in hospital

This is the touching moment that Kabore kneeled down and started praying as his team-mate received treatment

Footage has also emerged of the moment that Luton and Burkino Faso right-back Kabore started praying with his hands held out in front of him

Kabore, who is believed to be Muslim, posted a picture of Lockyer on his Instagram story last night which said ‘Alhamdulillah’ – an Arabic phrase meaning ‘praise be to God’.

The 22-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester City, was hailed on social media after a clip of him praying went viral.

READ MORE: The moment football STOPPED: The ground fell silent as medics rushed on after Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest… fearful fans were in tears and hoped for the best

One user said: ‘The humanity of Issa Kabore is wonderful to watch. Get well soon Tom.

Another posted: ‘Issa Kabore – a great ambassador for your wonderful club. My prayers are with Tom and his family.’ 

And a third shared a photo of Kabore praying, with the caption: ‘Unbelievable picture. Issa Kabore what a boy sign him permanently.’ 

Lockyer, who celebrated his 29th birthday last week, was ‘responsive’ as he was carried off on a stretcher ten minutes after collapsing before he was taken to hospital.

A statement from Luton confirmed Lockyer had been taken to hospital, adding players and staff were in ‘no state of mind’ to continue the match.

It 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.

Kabore, who is believed to be Muslim, posted a picture of Lockyer on his Instagram story last night which said ‘Alhamdulillah’ – an Arabic phrase meaning ‘praise be to God’

Social media users hailed the touching moment that Kabore started praying for his team-mate

Luton Town’s Issa Kabore clashes with Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi before the Premier League game was called off

‘We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks.’

An earlier update from the club 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.’

Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer is stretchered off the pitch after receiving medical attention at the Vitality Stadium

Luton manager Rob Edwards and his squad hope for the best as Tom Lockyer receives urgent medical treatment

In May’s Championship play-off final between Luton and Coventry at Wembley Stadium, Lockyer collapsed in the 11th minute of the first-half and was taken to hospital.

It was revealed Lockyer suffered atrial fibrillation of the heart but was given the all-clear to resume his career following surgery.

After Saturday’s game was officially abandoned, the players from both Luton and Bournemouth came back out on to the pitch to applaud the crowd, with Edwards close to tears on his lap around the ground.

Bournemouth tweeted after the incident: ‘We’re relieved to hear Tom is responsive. Our thoughts will continue to be with Tom and his family at this time.

‘We’d like to thank all the medical staff for their quick action as well as everyone inside the stadium for their support and unity during a difficult moment.’

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