Buffalo Bills’ Safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during Monday night’s game, which halted the NFL’s crucial game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which quickly lost meaning after a terrifying scene played out in front of a televised audience. national figure.
“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after a blow during our match against the Bengal team. His heart rate was restored on the field and he was transported to UC Medical Center for further examination and treatment,” the Bills said in a statement released early Tuesday. “He is currently being sedated and listed in critical condition.”
Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapses after tackle, in ‘critical condition’
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The 24-year-old Hamlin was given CPR on the field, ESPN reported during the broadcast. Teammates surrounded Hamlin, shielding him from public view. Many cried and prayed while Hamlin was treated on the field by the team and independent paramedics and local paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later visited Hamlin at the hospital while fans of both teams gathered outside, holding lit candles and praying.
Hamlin was injured while handling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in a game that seemed routine and did not appear unusually violent.
Higgins was running with the ball on a 13-yard pass from Joe Burrow when he took the lead with his right shoulder, hitting Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin then put his arm around Higgins’ shoulder and helmet to pull him down. Hamlin quickly stood up, seemingly adjusting the mask with his right hand, then fell back after about three seconds and lay motionless.
Buffalo Bills’ Siran Neal (33) and Nyheim Hines react after teammate Damar Hamlin was injured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2 in Cincinnati.
Jeff Dean/AP
Hamlin took a 19-minute break while receiving medical attention. WXIX-TV in Cincinnati reported that Hamlin required an automated external defibrillator (AED) in addition to CPR on the field.
HOW LONG DOES THE GAME DELAY?
It took the NFL about an hour after Hamlin’s fall to officially suspend the game as league executives were gathering information and communicating with referee Shawn Smith, the coach of both teams, and the Football Association. NFL player.
Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, says the NFL’s Emergency Action Plan has been activated. Vincent contacted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. Dawn Aponte, the federation’s chief executive of football, was present at the match and was in contact with Bills coach Sean McDermott, Bengals coach Zac Taylor and the referee.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) stops as Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin is examined by medical staff during the first half of an NFL football game on Jan. 2 in Cincinnati.
Emilee Chinn/AP
“It’s fluid and everything changes by the minute,” Vincent said. “Obviously on the phone the emotions were extremely high. It was a very volatile situation.”
Vincent refuted ESPN broadcast reports that both teams had a five-minute warm-up time to resume play.
“I’m not sure where it came from,” Vincent said. “We never thought about warming up to continue playing. Ridiculous. That is emotionless. That’s not where we should be.”
Hamlin spent five years in college in Pittsburgh – his hometown – and appeared in 48 games for the Panthers in that span. He was a second team All-ACC performer as a senior, was named team captain, and selected to play in the Senior Bowl.
Drafted by the Bills in the sixth round in 2021, Hamlin played 14 games as a rookie and then became this season’s starter after Micah Hyde was injured.
Buffalo Bills’ Spencer Brown (79) reacts as teammate Damar Hamlin is tested during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2 in Cincinnati.
Jeff Dean/AP
In 2020, Hamlin began hosting an annual Christmas toy fundraiser in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. By early Tuesday, a community toy fundraiser organized by Hamlin had grown to more than $3.1 million in donations. His stated goal is US$2,500.
Rodger Saffold, who lined up to attack the Bills, in a Twitter post, described Hamlin as a “kind, caring and incredibly hard worker.” Saffold wrote that Hamlin is “loyal, honest and can always put a smile on your face. He’s not just an athlete, he’s a son and a brother.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR the NFL?
The Bills-Bengals game is significant in the knockouts. Both teams are competing for the number 1 seed of the AFC. The Bills (12-3) come into the game with the lead while the Bengals (11-4) have a chance to win against AFC North and are also in the first seed group along with Kansas City (13-3). ).
The Bengal team led 7-3 in the first half when the game was stopped.
Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, said on a conference call shortly after midnight that the timeframe for resuming the game was not being considered at the time. there.
“Our concern is with the player and his health. At the right time, I’m sure we’ll have a conversation around the next steps in regards to the game,” Miller said.
The NFL is entering the final week of the regular season, and the knockouts are scheduled to begin January 14.
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