Yesterday, at 5:58 into the first quarter of the Buffalo Bills vs the Cincinnati Bengals game, tragedy struck. Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin collided with Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. The collision didn’t seem that hard. In fact, Hamlin got up initially. But then, he quickly fell to the ground.
Emergency medical staff rushed to his aid and performed CPR and AED on him for about 10 minutes as both teams surrounded him on bended knees. Finally, they were able to get his heart started again, and he was rushed to the hospital with his parents in the ambulance.
Shortly after he was taken away, the game was finally called for the night. A decision that took way too long for the visibly upset players and coaches of both teams.
Just before 2a, the team gave an update on his condition. “Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”
There are reports he was intubated at the hospital, and because of that, he is sedated.
As of now, there has been no update on his condition. But let’s pray for him.
And let’s stop with the conspiracy theories, and let’s wait to discuss what the NFL needs to do to protect the players until we know more about how Hamlin is doing.
Because yesterday we all became football fans, and we are praying for a speedy recovery and no permanent damage.
UPDATE: His family released a statement. To read it, then
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills gave an update on his condition. “Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center,” the statement reads. “We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far.”
