Bournemouth's dramatic win over Luton spoils Lockyer's emotional return

Lockyer collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest during the second half of Luton's Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium on December 16. The Wales defender was "technically dead" for over two minutes as medics fought to save his life. Rushed to hospital and fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Lockyer has been able to resume normal life but is yet to return to playing with Luton.

After the original game was abandoned with the score at 1-1, the 29-year-old was back at Bournemouth for the rearranged fixture 88 days on from the harrowing incident. Lockyer's presence initially galvanised Luton, who scored three times in the first half through Tahith Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene and Ross Barkley.

But Bournemouth hit back in stunning style after the interval thanks to strikes from Dominic Solanke, Illia Zabarnyi and two-goal Antoine Semenyo. Third-bottom Luton sit three points adrift of fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest after blowing a golden opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone. Forest will visit Luton in a crucial showdown on Saturday.

Luton's against the odds bid to extend their stay in the top flight pales in comparison to Lockyer's own fight for survival. Lockyer is unsure if he will ever play again after his second collapse, following an similar incident during Luton's Championship play-off final victory against Coventry at Wembley in May. For now, he spends his days getting used to becoming a father for the first time after his girlfriend recently gave birth to their baby daughter.

It was a heart-warming scene that greeted Lockyer when he stepped off the Luton team bus to loud cheers from waiting fans. Lockyer was on the front of Bournemouth's match-day programme, with mental