CNN
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Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after struggling a cardiac arrest and collapsing on the sector in the course of the first quarter of Monday night time’s sport between the Payments and Cincinnati Bengals, his workforce mentioned.
Hamlin fell on his again simply moments after getting up from an open area deal with of Bengals huge receiver Tee Higgins.
“His heartbeat was restored on the sector and he was transferred to the (College of Cincinnati) Medical Middle for additional testing and remedy. He’s at the moment sedated and listed in crucial situation,” the Payments mentioned in a tweet early Tuesday.
The 24-year-old’s collapse left gamers distraught – crying, praying, kneeling and embracing each other earlier than they returned to the locker room. The sport was suspended at 5:58 of the primary quarter and later was formally postponed.
Since then, assist for Hamlin has poured in from followers and others in professional sports activities, from the NFL’s Russell Wilson and JJ Watt to NBA star Lebron James, as a Christmas toy fundraiser Hamlin began in 2020 swiftly raised greater than $3 million.
Inside 10 seconds of Hamlin’s collapse, Payments workforce trainers had been treating him. An ambulance was on the sector in lower than 5 minutes, footage exhibits, and he was given CPR, based on an ESPN broadcast. “Hamlin obtained speedy medical consideration on the sector by workforce and impartial medical workers and native paramedics. He was then transported to a neighborhood hospital the place he’s in crucial situation,” the NFL mentioned in a press release.
Hamlin has performed each sport this season. The 24-year-old Pennsylvania native joined the Payments in 2021 as a sixth-round draft decide after enjoying for the College of Pittsburgh within the 2016-20 seasons. He was redshirted – sitting out on video games whereas nonetheless on the workforce – in 2016 on account of damage, his Pittsburgh Panthers participant bio states. He additionally missed time on account of accidents in 2017 and 2019, the NFL web site added.
After his collapse Monday, Neither of the groups’ coaches or gamers requested to proceed enjoying, NFL Government Vice President of Operations Troy Vincent, who performed within the league for over a decade, mentioned in a press name. The NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation agreed to postpone the sport, the NFL assertion mentioned.
“I’ve by no means seen something prefer it since I’ve been enjoying,” Vincent mentioned. “So, instantly, my participant hat went on. How do you resume play after you’ve seen such a traumatic occasion happen in entrance of you in actual time?”
A few of Hamlin’s teammates determined to remain in Cincinnati whereas the remainder of the workforce travels again Tuesday morning to Buffalo, Vincent mentioned. Payments huge receiver Stefon Diggs arrived on the hospital the place Hamlin was being handled late Monday night time, ESPN’s broadcast confirmed.
CNN has reached out to the Payments for remark.
Overwhelming assist for Hamlin flooded in Monday night time from followers and gamers throughout the sports activities world.
The NFL Gamers Affiliation tweeted Monday night time that the group and “everybody in our neighborhood is praying for Damar Hamlin.”
“Now we have been in contact with Payments and Bengals gamers, and with the NFL. The one factor that issues at this second is Damar’s well being and nicely being,” the gamers affiliation mentioned.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball participant Lebron James applauded the choice to postpone the sport after the medical emergency.
“It’s positively the best name,” he mentioned after the Lakers sport in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets Monday night time, including, “The security of gamers in all sports activities is all the time a very powerful. It was a horrible factor to see.”
“My ideas and tremendous prayers go as much as the skies above for that child’s household, for him, for that brotherhood of the NFL, and everyone who’s part of the NFL household,” James mentioned.
Properly needs and prayers had been despatched by a number of star athletes, together with Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, and free agent Odell Beckham Jr.
JJ Watt, an Arizona Cardinals defensive finish, tweeted, “The sport isn’t essential. Damar Hamlin’s life is essential. Please be okay. Please.”
Within the hours after Hamlin’s collapse, a Christmas toy drive fundraiser he began in 2020 had raised greater than $3 million because it was flooded with donations from supporters rooting for his restoration.
The participant created the drive to boost cash to purchase toys for kids in a Philadelphia neighborhood, writing on the time, “As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I’ll always remember the place I come from and I’m dedicated to utilizing my platform to positively impression the neighborhood that raised me.”
Within the hour after Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, the fundraiser had raised about $70,000 and fewer than 4,000 donations. However in simply 5 hours, the GoFundMe skyrocketed to greater than $3 million raised from virtually 120,000 donations, some as excessive as $5,000 every.
Hamlin continued his annual toy drive custom this 12 months in Buffalo, signing autographs and jerseys for kids who stopped by.
“(It’s) one thing I’ve all the time been into, simply giving again,” he informed CNN affiliate WKBW in December, including, “For 3 years I’ve been doing the toy drive so simply with the ability to prolong it to Buffalo now’s simply one thing I really like doing.”
