Bills’ Damar Hamlin Hospitalized, In Critical Condition After Monday Night Football Incident
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is reportedly in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing on the field during the team’s Monday Night Football game against the Bengals. Play did not resume after the incident and the game was later postponed.
NFL statement on tonight’s Bills-Bengals game: pic.twitter.com/odLrDlpQGU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2023
Hamlin collapsed after a play in the first quarter, when the safety brought down Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was running at full speed and appeared to hit him in the chest and head. Hamlin got up and took a few steps before going limp and falling back to the ground.
Medical personnel on the sidelines reached Hamlin seconds after he fell and administered CPR for at least eight minutes. Players from both teams lingered on the field after the play and many Bills players formed a tight circle around their teammate, barring cameras from capturing medical staff tending to Hamlin on the ground. Players on both sides were visibly shaken and some dropped to their knees in prayer.
An ambulance eventually came on to the field to retrieve Hamlin, and despite an initial agreement to resume play after a warmup, coaches and players agreed to temporarily suspend play. The NFL formally suspended the game more than an hour later.
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
Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center. Initial reports indicated that he was unable to breathe on his own, and a source close to him later reported that hospital staff “put him to sleep” in order to insert a breathing tube. He has been listed as being in “critical condition.”
One final prayer circle outside UC Medical Center from Bengals and Bills fans for 24-year-old #DamarHamlin.
No further updates from hospital staff tonight. As it stands, Hamlin remains in critical condition. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/Q2w7aTpCPC
— Valerie Lyons (@VLyonsTV) January 3, 2023
Hospital staff have indicated to reporters that they do not intend on providing any further updates for the time being. Hamlin is 24 and was drafted by the Bills in 2021 after five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. His mother was present at the game and traveled with him to the hospital.
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