Heartbreaking NFL Player Damar Hamlin Collapses During Game and Goes into Cardiac Arrest
On Monday night, NFL star Damar Hamlin was in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 24-year-old safety for the Buffalo Bills collapsed after being hit, and his heartbeat was restored by medical personnel on the field. He was then transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for further testing and treatment, and has since been sedated.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating and can be caused by a variety of factors, including heart attacks, electrocution, and drowning. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention, as the chances of survival decrease significantly with each passing minute. In such cases, CPR and defibrillation are often used to restore a normal heart rhythm.
The game was postponed as a result of the incident, and the Bills released a statement expressing their support for Hamlin and his family. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Damar, his family and the entire Bills organization during this difficult time,” the statement read.
According to team officials, Hamlin’s heart stopped after he was hit during a play in the first quarter. About nine minutes into the game, Hamlin tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard catch. Higgins rammed into Hamlin at full speed, hitting him in the head and chest area. Hamlin quickly stood up, took two steps, and collapsed backward, and his body went limp.
Medical personnel administered CPR and attended to Hamlin for 10 minutes as players from both teams were visibly upset, some shedding tears on the sideline while others circled together and knelt in prayer. One medical professional appeared to administer an IV, and Hamlin was later placed on a stretcher and transported to the hospital.
Fans in attendance at Paycor Stadium, who had been largely silent throughout the ordeal, applauded as the ambulance departed. Hamlin’s collapse was witnessed by millions of viewers who were tuned into the broadcast on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” Play was suspended for more than an hour before NFL officials announced that the game had been postponed.
Troy Vincent, the executive vice president of the NFL’s football operations, said that an emergency action plan was activated after Hamlin was injured. Each stadium has specialists on hand, as well as an ambulance. Vincent said that he and other league officials spoke with Shawn Smith, the head referee at the game, who in turn spoke to both head coaches about giving the players as much time as they needed.
There was no discussion of resuming play, Vincent said, which contradicted comments by ESPN’s play-by-play broadcaster, Joe Buck. Buck said just before players returned to the locker rooms that they were told they would have about five minutes to get ready to resume play. “That’s the word we get from the league and the word we get from down on the field, but nobody’s moving,” Buck said.
Vincent emphasized that the competitive aspect of the game never crossed anyone’s mind. “It wasn’t about proceeding with the game,” he said. “The competitive aspect never crossed my mind, never crossed our minds.”
Bills players and staff planned to fly back to Buffalo on Monday night, and Vincent and other league officials did not yet have plans for resuming the game, which was stopped with the Bengals leading 7–3.
Hamlin is in his second season with the Bills. He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he was a three-year starter and a team captain as a senior. Hamlin signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and played in nine games as a rookie. He has played in all 16 games this season and has one interception.
Hamlin is the second Bills player to suffer a serious injury this season. In November, Bills quarterback Josh Allen suffered a significant knee sprain that caused him to miss four games. He returned to the field in December and helped lead the Bills to the playoffs.
The Bills are currently 10–5 and have secured a spot in the playoffs. It is not yet clear how Hamlin’s injury will impact the team’s performance, but the thoughts and well wishes of the entire NFL community are with him and his family during this difficult time.
It is important to remember that football is a physically demanding and dangerous sport, and injuries are an unfortunate and inherent risk of the game. The NFL has implemented numerous measures to improve player safety, including rules changes, medical protocols, and improved equipment, but the nature of the sport means that accidents and injuries will continue to occur.
We hope for a speedy and full recovery for Damar Hamlin and send our best wishes to him and his family.
