Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest that forced the abandonment of his team’s Premier League match at Bournemouth on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Luton’s game was halted midway through the second half with the score at 1-1 after defender Lockyer collapsed on the pitch.
The Wales international was removed from the field of play on a stretcher surrounded by a medical team to a standing ovation from the crowd.
In a distressing scene Luton manager Rob Edwards sprinted onto the pitch to tell players to move away from their teammate as medical staff rushed to attend to him.
The Premier League confirmed the match had been abandoned and Luton later said he was in a stable condition in hospital.
The 29-year-old had heart surgery after collapsing during Luton’s Championship play-off final win against Coventry in late May.
Lockyer had suffered an atrial fibrillation, but recovered in hospital and underwent surgery. He was given the all clear to continue playing after Luton were promoted to the Premier League.
He returned to action for the start of the new season and had made 15 appearances so far in all competitions before Saturday’s match.