A tragic scene unfolded Monday night in Cincinnati just 10 minutes into the Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed on the field after tackling a Bengals WR. CPR was administered to Hamlin for nearly 10 minutes and he was transported to a local Cincinnati hospital after his heartbeat was restored on the field.
Just before 2 a.m., the Buffalo Bills tweeted the following statement:
Hamlin went down after making a tackle on Bengals WR Tee Higgins with just over 5 minutes left in the first quarter of a matchup between the Bengals and Bills.
Hamlin made the tackle on Higgins, got up and fell straight to his back. Medical personnel, including an ambulance, rushed to the field immediately. The ESPN broadcast reported that medical officials were scene performing CPR on Hamlin for at least 10 minutes.
The game was temporarily suspended and later postponed by the NFL.
Hamlin’s agent released the following statement on Twitter:
Over an hour after Hamlin went down, the NFL released a statement that read:
Tonight’s Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game has been postponed after Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced.
Statement from the NFL
Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. 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.
The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game.
The NFL Players Association released the following statement:
“The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin. We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well being.”
NFLPA
Hamlin was drafted in the 2021 NFL draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. He’s started 14 games for the Bills this season.
JMN extends our heartfelt prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family and the Buffalo Bills organization.
