Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin collapses during middle of NFL game

NFL star Damar Hamlin remains in a critical condition after he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on-field during a game.

Damar Hamlin down on the field

NFL star safety Damar Hamlin is reportedly in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital after collapsing in the middle of a game on Tuesday.

Hamlin made a routine tackle on Bengals star Tee Higgins with the two appearing to clash helmets in the hit.

The 24-year-old got back to his feet momentarily before stumbling and falling flat onto his back on the turf.

Watch an average of 6 NFL games each week LIVE on ESPN on Kayo Sports on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Scary scenes then began to unfold as emergency services rushed onto the field before CPR was administered and then oxygen was given to Hamlin.

Fox Sports reporter Joe Danneman said Hamlin “has a pulse, but is not breathing on his own. He is being transported to UC. Needed AED and CPR on the field.”

At 1:48am local time the Bills confirmed Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following the hit and his heartbeat was restored on the field. He is currently sedated and remains in a critical condition.

Hamlin’s marketing rep said in a statement: “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.”

The NFL released a statement around an hour after Hamlin had collapsed in which they officially called off the game between the Bills and Bengals.

“Tonight’s game has been postponed after Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed,” the statement read.

“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 a critical condition.

“Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills.”

The tackle right before Hamlin collapsed. (Photo by Dylan Buell / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Hamlin was taken to a nearby hospital. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Players from both the Buffalo Bills and Cincinatti Bengals huddled together in the middle of the field as medical staff continued to work on Hamlin.

Buffalo players were left in tears as the scary scenes dragged on for close to 10 minutes before Hamlin was loaded into an ambulance and taken off the field.

Both teams were reportedly given five minutes before the game would be restarted, however both coaches got together with the officials and shortly after the match was temporarily suspended.

Close to an hour after Hamlin collapsed, the NFL made the official decision to call the match off.

Hamlin was transported to a nearby hospital with his mother, who was in the stands at the game, riding in the ambulance with him.

The ambulance just arrived at UC Medical Center’s ER with a police escort. UC is the area’s level one trauma center. #Bills#Bengals#DamarHamlin#wlwtpic.twitter.com/c3q0CGe0F7

— Jatara McGee WLWT (@jatara_) January 3, 2023

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

“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.”

NFLPA statement: “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.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2023