On January 2nd, 2023, during a national football league game, Damar Hamlin’s heart unexpectedly stopped after tackling wide receiver Tee Higgens. It was a typical Monday night football game starring the Bills and Bengals. The score was 7-3, with the Bengals in the lead. At 8:55 p.m., Damar Hamlin stood up after tackling a Bengals player, adjusted his helmet with his right hand, and collapsed three seconds later. A first responder and experienced paramedics rushed to the field to perform CPR. They were able to keep his heart going. Four minutes later, an ambulance arrived on the field. The Bills gathered in prayer, and several were found crying and embracing each other while Hamlin was treated. 

At 9:25, about 19 minutes later, Hamlin was lifted into the ambulance with oxygen tubes and a stretcher. He was driven to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, joined later by Stefon Diggs. Many Bengals and Bills fans held candles on the curb across the hospital. At 9:52, the game was suspended, and the Bills team took the next flight home while awaiting news on Hamlin. 

At 1:48 a.m., the Bills announced Hamlin suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest. He was then treated and monitored for two days after the incident. On Wednesday, January 4th, Hamlin was released from the hospital. He is now up and walking around on a regular diet. The quick recovery of Damar Hamlin has comforted Bills fans, and he has been cleared to return to playing football as soon as he is one hundred percent healthy. On January 22nd, the Bengals hosted the Bills In Ohio for a redo of the big game. Hamlin was seen on the sideline cheering on his team, looking healthy. The Bengals won 27-10, but from hearing interviews from Bills players, all they truly cared about was the health of Damar Hamlin.   

SOURCES

Image: https://www.pexels.com/

Stacy, M. (2023, January 3). Bills’ damar hamlin in critical condition after collapse on Field. PBS. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/bills-damar-hamlin-in-critical-condition-after-collapse-on-field 

Miller, R. (2023, January 7). Bills safety damar hamlin collapses on field, game against Bengals postponed. Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2023/01/03/damar-hamlin-injury-buffalo-bills-safety-collapses-after-tackle-bengals-tee-higgins/69771929007/