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Bournemouth captain and goalkeeper Neto has explained what it was like for players and coaching staff at the Vitality Stadium when visiting Luton player Tom Locker collapsed on the pitch.
Lockyer suffered a second career on-pitch cardiac arrest in the recently-abandoned Premier League encounter between the Cherries and Luton on December 16.
The Hatters captain collapsed off the ball and medics rushed onto the pitch as the match was halted while he received treatment before being taken to hospital.
The match was eventually abandoned after players and coaching staff agreed to rearrange the fixture, with Lockyer subsequently being discharged from hospital on Thursday.
Bournemouth goalkeeper and captain Neto (No 1) described the ‘heavy moment’ after watching Luton’s Tom Lockyer collapse
Lockyer collapsed on the pitch at the Vitality Stadium after suffering a cardiac arrest
Scenes at the Vitality Stadium on that day were difficult for everyone inside the ground and Neto has explained that the image of Lockyer collapsing still repeats itself in his head.
‘Thank God he is okay and with his family,’ the Brazilian shot-stopper said.
‘We have to keep moving, but after you close your eyes, that image can come back.
‘It was a very scary, very heavy moment and everybody on the pitch can put themselves in that situation,’ he added.
‘You think, “Oh my God, this can happen to anybody here” – of course, we try to do checks, but it can happen.
‘It was a very bad feeling but thank God he is okay and he is alive, that is the most important thing. It’s difficult. I’ve had loss in my life and we can understand the world does not stop for it,’ said Neto.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola also provided words of encouragement for Lockyer who could likely retire from professional football as a player.
‘I think we feel now more relieved, you know, that we have good news about Tom,’ he said.
Lockyer has since been discharged from hospital and is continuing his recovery at home
Neto admitted it was a ‘very scary’ moment for everyone inside the Vitality Stadium on that day
Cherries manager Andoni Iraola echoed words of praise for how everyone responded to the horrific accident
‘Some of our players know Tom better than the others as well as their families so it’s probably been more difficult for them but now we need to keep going and we hope the best for Tom for his recovery.
‘Obviously, there were tough moments last week. Everyone reacted very well, the supporters, obviously the medical staff were amazing.
‘I think it was the logical decision also not to continue the game. When something like this happens, you forget about the game, about football, about everything.
‘Now after hearing the good news, it’s may be easier and we need to put our focus again and start thinking about the next game against Forest,’ added Iraola.
