Buffalo Bills' player Damar Hamlin suffers heart attack during game

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Jan 2023 13:05

Although injuries are frequent, especially in a violent sport like this, fans are expressing astonishment to see an ambulance enter the field for the first time.

Buffalo Bills' player Damar Hamlin. Source: MLive.

NFL team Buffalo Bills witnessed one of its players, Damar Hamlin, suffer a cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. Hamlin is currently in critical condition at the hospital.

As Hamlin had an immediate emergency and a medical team rushed to him on the field, his teammates gathered around him in support, and many were kneeling to pray while some were left crying.

On their Twitter page, the Buffalo Bills posted: "His heartbeat was restored on the field ... 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

This was caused by a hard hit to the chest after tackling Bengals player Tee Higgins, after which he stood up and then collapsed to the ground. He was taken away in an ambulance after receiving medical attention for about 30 minutes on the field. ESPN commentator Joe Buck confirmed that his family joined him in the ambulance, which took him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Prayers up on Twitter

After angry reactions flooded social media upon seeing reports that the game would resume immediately, the coaches of both teams decided with the referees that the game would be "temporarily suspended."

1. NFL Player Damar Hamlin suffered a Heart Attack - NFL Commentators have “never seen anything like that”!
Let me tell you what this REALLY MEANS, you will be SHOCKED.

pic.twitter.com/PKeze91niZ
— aussie17 (@_aussie17) January 3, 2023

In a statement, the NFL expressed: "Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available," adding: "The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game,"

Higgins stated on Twitter that he was praying for Hamlin and his family: "I'm praying that you pull through bro,"

Although injuries are frequent, especially in a violent sport like American football, many fans were astonished to see an ambulance enter the field for the first time.

The NFL Players Association relayed on Twitter that "the only thing that matters at this moment is Damar's health and well-being," continuing: "The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin,"

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.
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) January 3, 2023

The incident gathered reactions from other players in other sports fields such as basketball's NBA.

NBA star LeBron James expressed: "The safety of players in all sports is always the most important," adding on Twitter: "It was a terrible thing to see and I wish nothing but the best for that kid."