Damar Hamlin’s family representative says the Buffalo Bulls player is ‘now sedated’ after waking up after suffering a cardiac arrest when he tacked a rival Cincinnati Bengals receiver.
Hamlin, 24, was immediately rushed to the hospital after being administered CPR on the field while surrounded by his horrified teammates.
Close friend and family rep Jordon Rooney told Good Morning America that the NFL star is a ‘fighter,’ but his family is ‘worried’.
Rooney, who worked with Hamlin on a charity toy drive days before the incident, flew to Cincinnati after the news broke to be with his friend.
Damar Hamlin’s family representative says the Buffalo Bulls player is ‘now sedated’ after waking up after suffering a cardiac arrest
Close friend and family rep Jordon Rooney told Good Morning America that the NFL star is a ‘fighter,’ but his family is ‘worried’
He said: ‘I can’t speak specifically on his medical condition but I will say he’s fighting. He’s a fighter.
‘I needed to provide some clarity – he was awake at that time – now he is sedated.
‘The family is in good spirits, we’re just taking it minute by minute, hour by hour.
‘His family is strong, supportive. Obviously they are worried. Damar is very close with his family.’
Hamlin’s family were at the game when he collapsed and his mother Nina traveled with him to hospital in the ambulance.
The Buffalo Bills safety, who has set up charity toy drives to raise money for his local community, had tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgens in the first quarter of the pivotal Monday night match.
He managed to get up briefly before falling backwards to the ground and laying motionless as an outpouring of support flooded in for the young player.
Bills fans and Bengals fans have both gathered on a corner about a block from the hospital’s emergency room after the incident took place.
Rooney, who Hamlin asked to work with as an intern, flew to Cincinnati after the news broke to be with his friend
The Buffalo Bills safety, who has set up charity toy drives to raise money for his local community, had tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgens in the first quarter of the pivotal Monday night match
Bills players were visibly stunned as their teammate received life-saving treatment on the field
Rooney added:‘I know Damar because I run a sports marketing agency and he reached out to me to be an intern for me.
‘It’s pretty unique… he interned for me and we became super close partners in business together. We collaborate on a lot of things.
‘There’s definitely been a lot of fans [at the hospital], a lot of traction, people coming by. But what’s most important is to give the family their privacy.
‘A lot of times you don’t view [athletes] as human, you know you watch them on tv. It’s important to remember this is a person.’
He added that his vitals are ‘back to normal’ and are running tests on Hamlin to see what caused the sudden collapse.
On the play the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin was injured, Higgins led with his right shoulder, which hit the defensive back in the chest.
Hamlin, who earns a base salary of $825,000, then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to drag him down.
He managed to get up briefly before falling backwards to the ground and laying motionless as an outpouring of support flooded in for the young player
Hamlin pictured alongside mother Nina during his playing days as a kid – he said he chose to stay close to home when going to college so he could be near his family
He was surrounded by players from both sides and treated for 16 minutes before being immobilized and taken off the field
The Bills player managed to get to his feet, adjusted his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backward about three seconds later and lay motionless.
He was surrounded by players from both sides and treated for 16 minutes before being immobilized and taken off the field.
While medical personnel were gathered around Hamlin, his playing uniform was cut off and was given oxygen.
Players on both teams were visibly stunned by what had happened and many were in tears on the field.
Many players embraced, including quarterbacks Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. The game was postponed by the NFL.
Higgens, the player who was tackled by Hamlin, led the outpouring of well wishes for the young player, tweeting that he ‘prays Hamlin will pull through’ as the player remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
He said: ‘My prayers and thoughts go out to @HamlinIslandthe Hamlin Family. I’m praying that you pull through bro. Love.’
Medics ran onto the pitch to treat Hamlin after he collapsed on the floor following a tackle on Monday
Fans gather for a vigil at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for football player Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, who collapsed after making a tackle during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday in Cincinnati, Ohio
The Bills later tweeted: ‘Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals.
‘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.’
Bills players were visibly upset and praying for their teammate after he was driven away by the ambulance.
Hamlin is incredibly close to his family – and footage from November 20 shows the player greeting his family and hugging his mom before Buffalo’s win over Cleveland.
His agent Ira Turner told NFL Network: ‘Please continue to pray for Damar and his family. We currently have no update at this time. Will ask that you keep the family in your prayers.’
Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Troy Vincent, now an NFL executive, said: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it since I was playing.
‘Immediately, my player hat went on, like, how do you resume playing after seeing a traumatic event in front of you?’
During the match, the ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast cut to commercial on four occasions as Hamlin was receiving treatment.
After the ambulance had left the field, reports initially suggested the game was going to restart following a five-minute warm-up, prompting an outpouring of anger on social media.
Vincent said the league took no steps toward restarting the game and did not ask players to begin a five-minute warmup period
He added: ‘It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. That’s not a place we should ever be in.’
Hamlin (No 3) got on his feet briefly after making the tackle on Higgins before falling backwards in shocking scenes as the Buffalo Bills played Cincinnati Bengals
The Bills player then collapsed moments later, falling backwards and laying motionless on the floor
Hamlin is incredibly close to his family – and footage from November 20 shows the player greeting his family and hugging his mom before Buffalo’s win over Cleveland
A statement released by the league read: ‘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.’
