On Monday, the game between NFL teams Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was immediately suspended after Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed on the field and reportedly not breathing.
The 24-year-old went into cardiac arrest and collapsed mid-game, requiring CPR for 9 minutes as he was not breathing. He was then taken off the field on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital at about 9:25 p.m.
Fox Sports reporter Joe Danneman tweeted at the time that “Hamlin has a pulse but is not breathing on his own. He is being transported to UC.
He added that the player “needed AED and CPR on the field.”
Fox reporter Tricia Macke tweeted about thirty minutes later with new information that Hamlin “has been intubated and is currently listed in critical condition.”
ESPN also shared a photo of players kneeling and announced, “Bills safety Damar Hamlin was taken off the field in an ambulance after receiving treatment for over 10 minutes. CPR was administered to Hamlin after he collapsed early in the game. He appeared to be receiving oxygen as he was placed in the ambulance.”
The Bengals tweeted an encouraging “thoughts and prayers” out to Damar as he was rushed off the field.
Here is a video of the tackle and collapse. Hamlin is #3. Watch:
https://youtu.be/o7moWjtClL8
Many people are questioning whether or not Hamlin received the covid-19 vaccine. Nearly 2,000 healthy athletes have suffered cardiac arrest since covid began and a little over 1,000 have them have died.
Healthy, young people do not just have heart attacks, life threatening blood clots, or just die in their sleep. That is not normal and should not be normalized.
This is a serious issue that needs to be investigated.
Since COVID began, there have been 1,616 Athlete Cardiac Arrests. 1,114 of them are dead.
This is not a coincidence anymore. This is science & needs to be investigated.
Prayers up for Damar Hamlin. ???????? pic.twitter.com/p5tSht4u16
— Luke McCool (@McCool4u) January 3, 2023
Regardless of the reasoning for his injury, I truly hope he makes a full recovery and is able to get back out on the field. He has his whole life ahead him, still.