The Buffalo Bills said in a statement during the early morning hours on Tuesday that safety Damar Hamlin’s frightening collapse on the field was triggered by cardiac arrest.
Hamlin collapsed with about six minutes left in the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game after he tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard catch. After the tackle, Hamlin got up, took a step backward, and fell to the ground.
“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals,” the team said in a statement. “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.”
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.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023
The New York Times reported that medical professionals administered CPR on the 24-year-old athlete while a stunned stadium of tens of thousands of fans, and millions more watching at home, looked on.
Joe Buck, ESPN’s play-by-play broadcaster, said that the network was given a heads up that teams had five minutes to warm back up to get ready to resume play.
However, Troy Vincent, the executive vice president of the NFL’s football operations, suggested that was not true in remarks to reporters after the game, which was suspended indefinitely.
“Neither coach was talking about resuming play, the players were not thinking of resuming play,” said Vincent. “How do you resume play after seeing such a traumatic event?”
“It wasn’t about proceeding with the game,” Vincent added. “The competitive aspect never crossed my mind, never crossed our minds.”
There was an immediate outpouring of support online following Hamlin’s collapse, including from numerous current and former players.
“Please join me in prayer for Damar Hamlin,” Tim Tebow tweeted.
“The game is not important,” JJ Watt tweeted. “Damar Hamlin’s life is important. Please be ok. Please.”
“Please don’t share the video of the Damar Hamlin play,” Robert Griffin III tweeted. “Share this because we are all Praying for him and his family.”
Please don’t share the video of the Damar Hamlin play. Share this because we are all Praying for him and his family. pic.twitter.com/QnO7DpAo7u
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 3, 2023
Drew Brees tweeted, “Damar Hamlin represents every one of us and every teammate we’ve ever had. I’ve never met him, but I know him as a member of our brotherhood. My family and I pray for him and his family as he recovers. God be with him.”
Reporter Kelsey Conway shared a photograph from the hallway outside the locker rooms.
“Just stood with Tee Higgins’ mom who is now walking out with Tee who has his arm wrapped around her,” she tweeted. “Tee was the one who collided with Damar Hamlin before he collapsed.”
Just stood with Tee Higgins’ mom who is now walking out with Tee who has his arm wrapped around her. Tee was the one who collided with Damar Hamlin before he collapsed pic.twitter.com/C1kzWI2hp5
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) January 3, 2023