Off The Record
NFL Game Suspended After Player Damar Hamlin Collapses On Field
Damar Hamlin, an NFL star, collapsed mid game during a nationally televised game in the United States.
This happened in the first quarter of the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, and the 24-year-old player from Buffalo fell to the ground after clashing with an opponent.
BREAKING: Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin passes out after making a tackle in the Bills vs Bengals game… A very scary site as both teams are gathered around him in prayer right now.. https://t.co/qVi3bGQ2om
— Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) January 3, 2023
More more 30 minutes passed before he was brought to a nearby hospital, although that was after receiving care on the field.
About an hour after the incident, the NFL called off the game for the evening.
The Buffalo Bills released a statement later confirming the cardiac arrest and saying his heartbeat was restored while on the field.
As the NFL season nears its climactic play-off stages, the situation prompted an outpouring of well-wishes for Hamlin and brought attention back to the dangerous element of America’s most popular sport.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin remained down on the field after a scary hit.
— ESPN (@espn) January 3, 2023
According to the broadcast, medical personnel have administered CPR. pic.twitter.com/JKCWmfzaLT
It seemed like Hamlin was hit in the chest by Bengals receiver Tee Higgins’ helmet as he made a tackle of Higgins at the stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. He tried to stand up, but ended himself flat on his back.
Hamlin was surrounded by players from both teams as he received CPR and oxygen from paramedics. A number of them appeared to be in distress, as seen by their bowed heads during prayer and their tears.
The Cincinnati crowd was notably silent throughout the event, despite the fact that the television coverage frequently veered away from the action on the field.
Damar Hamlin is the best of us.
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) January 3, 2023
We love you, 3. Praying for you. pic.twitter.com/fYymfFsynp
The Twitter post came from Hamlin’s representative Jordan Rooney, who said: “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.”
Injuries are extremely unusual causes for game interruptions in the NFL. The commentators pointed to the fact that the action had stopped as proof of how frightening and serious the issue was.
Two of this year’s top contenders for the Super Bowl meet on a Monday night in the second-to-last week of the NFL regular season.
Association of League Players issued the following statement: “We’ve had conversations with NFL representatives, as well as players from the Bills and the Bengals. At this time, nothing is more important than making sure Damar is okay.”
During the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, the Buffalo Bills players kneel to pray as an ambulance takes their teammate, safety Damar Hamlin (not visible). Mandatory.
After a play in the first quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills’ NFL Week 17 game at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati, the Buffalo Bills huddle together as an ambulance parks on the field and CPR is provided to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3). In the first quarter, play was put on hold when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) had to be transported from the field in an ambulance.
Hamlin was picked by the Bills in the 2021 NFL draft after excelling at the University of Pittsburgh. He is originally from McKees Rock, Pennsylvania.
He’s a defender who spent much of last season on the Bills’ bench but has broken into the starting lineup.
Since long before he became a professional athlete, he has been praised for organizing a Christmas toy drive in his village.
After Hamlin’s collapse on Monday, a GoFundMe page set up for the toy drive was reposted and quickly surpassed its original goal of $3m (£2.5m).
On Monday night, buildings all throughout Cincinnati, including Paycor Stadium, where the incident took place, were illuminated in blue.
Many people from all across the world have sent their best wishes.
LeBron James, a famous basketball player, recently stated: “It was a terrible thing to see and I wish nothing but the best for that kid. I am a huge fan of the NFL and football and you never want to see anything like that happen.”
Praying for you kid!!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/cC3ZsnpsjR
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 3, 2023
“The safety of players in all sports is always the most important,” he added.
AZ Cardinals DE JJ Watt tweeted: “Please be ok man. Please be ok”, while retired Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark told ESPN’s SportsCenter show: “This isn’t about a football player, this is about a human.”
Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, declared: “Praying for Damar Hamlin. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones and the entire Buffalo Bills community.”
The experience was “devastating,” according to Bills supporter Bruce Sharpe, who was there at the time.
“Everything got dead silent. Even the Bengals fans, you know, you don’t want to see anything like that,” he said. “We’re just praying that everything’s okay.”
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