NFL star Damar Hamlin had to twice be resuscitated after his heart stopped mid-game but appears to be “trending upwards in a positive way”, his uncle said on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player collapsed on Monday when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
He fell to the ground shortly after making a tackle and received CPR on the field. He remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Giving an update to CNN outside the University of Cincinnati Hospital, Hamlin’s uncle Dorrian Glenn said: “His heart had went out so they had to resuscitate him twice.
“They resuscitated him on the field before they brought him to the hospital and then they resuscitated him a second time when they got him to the hospital.”
Mr Glenn said he had been watching the game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when the tragedy unfolded before his eyes.
“I’m not a crier, but I’ve never cried so hard in my life,” he said.
“Just to know, like, my nephew basically died on the field and they brought him back to life.
“They sedated him just to give a better chance for him to just continue to heal better. We are just taking it day by day. It seems like he’s trending upwards in a positive way.”
Distraught Bills players gathered in prayer with fans at the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium in Ohio in silence as Hamlin was taken by ambulance to hospital on Monday.
The game was first temporarily suspended as both sets of players left the field with the Bengals leading 7-3 in the first quarter, before the NFL later announced play would not resume on the night.
“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals,” an initial statement from the Bills read. “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.”
Hamlin is playing in his second season in the league after being drafted by the Bills out of the University of Pittsburgh in the sixth round in 2021 and has been a regular starter for a franchise that are among the favourites for the Super Bowl, having already clinched the AFC East divisional title and a place in the playoffs, which start later this month.
Continuing to send all of our love, prayers and support to you, Damar. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/yNswRCflpQ
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 4, 2023
In a further update released on Tuesday, the Bills said: “Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far.”
Hamlin’s family have thanked fans for their outpouring of support and also praised the work of the first responders and healthcare professionals.
“On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time,” the player’s family wrote in a statement.
“We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.”
They added: “Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them.”
In a show of support for Hamlin, donations to a community fundraiser set up by the player back in 2020 in order to provide toys for children in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania have skyrocketed to almost $5million and counting.
The NFL have also now confirmed that the Bengals-Bills game will not be rescheduled for this week.
“The NFL continues to be in regular contact with the medical team caring for Damar Hamlin, and also the Bills and Bengals organizations and the NFL Players Association. After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week,” the league said in a statement.
“The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date. The league has not made any changes to the Week 18 regular season schedule. We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.”
