NFL star Damar Hamlin collapses, administered CPR during Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game

The Buffalo Bills have provided an update to Damar Hamlin’s condition, the NFL star who collapsed mid-game forcing the league to abandon the Monday Night Football fixture.

Staff writers and Julian Linden

3 min read

January 3, 2023 - 6:56PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Buffalo Bills players look on after teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Picture: Dylan Buell/Getty

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The Monday night NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was officially suspended after a player collapsed on the field and received CPR before an ambulance took him away.

Part-way through the first quarter, Bills safety Damar Hamlin took a hard hit during a tackle, stood up and then collapsed to the floor.

He received medical attention for over 20 minutes, with ESPN reporting that he had received CPR.

Buffalo revealed Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a collision early in the game,” the Bills statement reads.

“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.”

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 league released a statement confirming Hamlin remained in a “critical condition”.

“Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition,” the statement said.

A source reportedly close to Hamlin provided an update of the player’s condition.

“His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests,” the tweet reads.

Update on Damar:

His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests.

We will provide updates as we have them.
— Jordon Rooney (@jordonr) January 3, 2023

Earlier, players from both NFL teams gathered around Hamlin during the treatment, with many of them kneeling to pray and some openly weeping.

ESPN said Hamlin was provided with oxygen as he left after being placed on a stretcher.

The game was suspended after discussions with the two teams’ coaches but many observers were left bewildered by the decision delay calling off the game for roughly an hour.

ESPN’s Booger McFarland spoke about the incident and pleaded with the league to call the game off completely.

The tackle before the incident. Picture: Dylan Buell/Getty

Damar Hamlin leaves in an ambulance. Picture: Dylan Buell/Getty

Buffalo Bills players pray after the incident. Dylan Buell/Getty

“It’s something like we’ve never seen before, I’ve never seen it never been a part of it and never heard about it,” McFarland said.

“You hate to keep repeating the same thing but all you can do is pray for this young man.

“Hopefully they’ve gotten word, hopefully the Bills and the doctors are communicating with the family I can only imagine what my family would want to know.

“That’s somebody’s son, somebody’s brother, somebody’s father, they want to know what’s going on.”

Adam Schefter added: “It’s chilling to watch it and in this day and age on social media you could see every single team, every single player, every single person was offering up their prayers.

“The game doesn’t matter. The game is so secondary to everything else right now. All that’s on anybody’s mind right now is this young man.”

The NFL Players’ Association released a statement shortly after the game was postponed.

“The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin. We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well being.”

AUSTRALIAN REACTION

Visiting American tennis star Jessica Pegula said she felt sick the moment she saw Hamlin suddenly collapse during a prime time NFL match she was watching from Sydney.

Pegula’s billionaire parents own the Buffalo Bills NFL team that Hamlln plays safety for so she was watching their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on her phone from Sydney, where she is playing for the United States in the United Cup mixed team event.

“It’s just terrible. There’s really no words. I’m glad they stopped the game,” Pegula said.

“I think it just brings you back to there‘s a lot bigger things that are more important than sports and games and stuff like that. So I’m glad they stopped the game.

Jessica Pegula is the daughter of Bills owners Terry and Kim. Picture: David Gray/AFP

“I’m glad they’re trying to go support him but it was pretty scary. I don’t really know much else. Obviously, it’s pretty frantic there right now.”

Pegula’s parents Terry and Kim own both the Buffalo Bills NFL team and the upper New York state city’s National Hockey League franchise, the Buffalo Sabres.

Ranked third in the world in women’s singles, Pegula follows both teams closely and considers everyone in the franchises as part of a wider family.

“I felt sick. It was just terrible. I think everyone felt that way, who was watching,” she said.

“I don‘t know him personally. I don’t think I’ve ever actually met him. But obviously with the teams and everything, it’s like family. So it’s definitely not something that we wanted to see.”

The thoughts and prayers of all of Bills Mafia are supporting you, Damar. ðŸ™ pic.twitter.com/lDWNAOEPX4
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023