Damar Hamlin was taken to the hospital at 9:25pm local time after receiving medical attention on the field; Bills confirmed on Tuesday morning that Hamlin had suffered a cardiac arrest and was in critical condition; NFL postponed game between Bills and Bengals
Last Updated: 03/01/23 7:17am
Damar Hamlin is in a critical condition in the hospital
NFL player Damar Hamlin is in a critical condition in the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 24-year-old Bills defensive back briefly got to his feet after making what appeared to be a routine tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins with five minutes and 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter but then collapsed to the ground.
The game in Cincinnati was halted as medical staff quickly attended to him and administered CPR for approximately 10 minutes, with players from both teams visibly distraught as the situation unfolded.
The Bills have since issued a statement confirming Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, adding that 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.”
As Hamlin was taken in an ambulance to the hospital at 9.25pm local time, Bills head coach Sean McDermott was seen leading his team in prayer before players from both teams headed to the locker rooms, some with tears in their eyes. The NFL later announced that the game had been postponed.
Buffalo Bills teammates and Cincinnati Bengals players gathered together as Damar Hamlin was treated by medical staff on the field
“Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by the team and independent medical staff and local paramedics,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
“He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.
“Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
Hamlin’s agent, Ira Turner, said in a statement that there was “no update” as of late Monday night local time.
Hamlin is in his second season in the NFL, after being taken in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bills.
He has started 13 games for the Bills this season in place of injured safety Micah Hyde, who suffered a neck injury in Week Two and has been on injured reserve since. Hamlin is tied for the second-most tackles on the team this year, with 91.
Hamlin has a charitable foundation, ‘Chasing M’s’, that has been raising money for a toy drive. His stated goal was $2,500, but by early Tuesday morning, he had over $3m in donations.
The entire Bills team departed Paycor Stadium shortly after midnight, with NFL Network‘s Cameron Wolfe reported that they would be flying back to Buffalo that evening.
After Hamlin exited the field in an ambulance, it looked briefly as if play might resume, before Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and Bills counterpart McDermott met with game officials and the decision was made to pause the game, which the Bengals were leading 7-3 .
The NFL announced a full postponement of the fixture just after 10pm, 90 minutes following kick-off and the league has not specified when or if the game will be made up or resumed.
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