CNN
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Buffalo Payments offensive sort out Dion Dawkins has recalled the second he realized one thing was “actually, actually unsuitable” after teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the sector towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin remains in hospital and in a important situation after struggling a cardiac arrest in Monday’s sport. His uncle, Dorrian Glenn, advised CNN that Hamlin continues to be sedated having been resuscitated twice – on the sector after which on the hospital.
The sport was subsequently postponed with gamers from each groups visibly distraught.
“You go searching and also you see the medical employees doing their job, and you already know when it’s one thing minor like someone is down, however they’re sitting up, the blokes are transferring at a pleasant tempo,” Dawkins told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday.
“However when issues like this are happening, they’re waving actually quick and calling guys on the sector and calling for the elite medical employees – that’s once you actually understand that one thing is actually, actually unsuitable.
“This was one of many first experiences for myself the place one thing like this has occurred in this kind of method, the place it silenced a complete stadium that was at an uproar half a play earlier.”
Live updates: NFL star Damar Hamlin in critical condition after cardiac arrest
Based on Glenn, Hamlin is on a ventilator to alleviate a few of the pressure on his lungs, which have been broken following the cardiac arrest. He mentioned his nephew’s situation is “trending upwards in a optimistic method” whereas receiving remedy in hospital.
For Dawkins, who’s in his sixth season with the Payments, the gravity of the state of affairs instantly made him flip to prayer.
“Whether or not you’re a believer or not, solely a better energy can actually take management of what’s subsequent,” he mentioned.
“Our people who helped additionally assisted that larger energy. However in that second you type of simply should be weak and let prayer go up and work its magic.”
On Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned the sport between the Payments and the Bengals won’t be resumed this week, including that no choice has been made on when it is likely to be performed.
“I’m really blessed that we didn’t should preserve enjoying,” mentioned Dawkins.
“The truth that we didn’t have to return on the market on that area and play simply reveals that there’s care, and that’s all we will ever ask for is that we get handled as folks,” he added.
“Most individuals simply deal with us as athletes, as superstars, and a few folks like celebrities, however in that second they [the NFL] handled us like folks. And being handled as an individual that’s cared for, it’s a good looking feeling.
“I’m grateful that I used to be handled as an individual and so had been the remainder of my teammates as a result of on the finish of the day, we’re folks. And we’ve emotions, we’ve feelings, we cry, we harm. And we’ve households, they usually harm, they usually cry.”
