Lockyer joins in united call for support for Jack

By Neil Harvey

WISHES: Jack Marshall

RECOVERING Kempston Rovers goalkeeper Jack Marshall has received a message of support from Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game on Saturday.

The 20-year-old collapsed on the pitch during Rovers’ Southern League Division One Central an away game against Hadley FC last Saturday.

Marshall, ironically from Luton, had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted several years ago which successfully revived him after four attempts.

He has been inundated with well-wishers – including Lockyer, who himself had an ICD fitted after he too collapsed during Luton’s Premier League match with Bournemouth in December and had to be resuscitated by medics.

In a social media video, Lockyer said: “I just wanted to wish you all the very best. I’m glad you are recovering.

“That’s why we have these ICDs in us, for situations like this. I hope you are doing well, take care mate and look after yourself.”

Manager Richard Hill said he felt the defibrillator activate as he tried to check his goalkeeper’s pulse.

He recalled: “I was feeling for his pulse and it went off. He looked at me and went ‘where am I’.

“He’s had it for seven years, and it’s never gone off, and this was the first time.”

Marshall has previously raised about £16,000 for Great Ormand Street Hospital’s cardiac unit.

In February, his father collapsed and received 845 volts from his own ICD.

His mother added: “I would like to thank the squad, the managers, the officials and the fans for their incredible support

“He’s been perfect since he got into the hospital, he’s feeling well and he just wants to go home.”