NFL Bengals-Bills Game Suspended After Collapse of Buffalo Bills Player Damar Hamlin

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the football field after taking a hit while tackling another player at the Monday Night Football game at Paycor Stadium in Ohio, about 8:55 p.m. EST (7:55 p.m. CST) Monday, January 2, 2023.

Damar Hamlin, age 24, was hit in a play in which he was involved in a tackle of Tee Higgins (Tamaurice William Higgins). He stood up, but collapsed without warning and without any attempt to slow his own fall. The collapse occurred about 7 seconds after the players collided during the tackle. Hamlin appeared to be impacted with somewhat normal force at the chest, during the tackle. Initially, analysts were calling the play a clean hit or clean tackle.

Hamlin immediately got up after the tackle, and appeared to get up normally; but immediately after standing, his knees appeared to buckle, and he collapsed backward and landed on his back. A referee was standing right next to Hamlin when he collapsed, and immediately stopped the clock and called for help. Hamlin collapsed within about three seconds after standing up from the playing field.

First responders and sidelines medical personnel immediately began to treat Hamlin, including administering CPR, which was continued on the playing field for about 15 minutes. Video shows a period of about 24 seconds during initial medical assessment when no CPR was being administered.

Hamlin was treated on the field with oxygen, and Advanced Life Support, including an IV line, intubation, and defibrillation, and transferred to an ambulance, which was backed up on the field to 40 yard line.

AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest involving specific abnormal electrophysiological heart rhythms. If ventricular fibrillation (VF or V-fib) or ventricular tachycardia (VT or V-tach) are detected, the AED automatically administers a shock.

FOX19 reporter Joe Danneman reported on Twitter that he was told that Damar Hamlin had a pulse, but was not breathing on his own. He wrote that Hamlin was transported away from the stadium in an ambulance with a police escort. He wrote CPR and an AED was needed on the field. Writing for FOX19, content writer Brian Planalp reported that sources told FOX19 that Damar Hamlin is intubated, and is listed in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The NFL released a statement at 10:11 p.m. EST (9:11 p.m. CST) that “Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical medical staff and local paramedics.”

Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Chuck Hughes is the only NFL player to have died on the field following CPR. According to ESPN, NFL player Chuck Hughes collapsed on the playing field in Detroit on October 24, 1971 during a game with the Chicago Bears. NY Post writer Mike Vaccaro reviewed the history of the death of Chuck Hughes with an article titled Chuck Hughes’ death 50 years ago is NFL tragedy we pray to never see again.

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Check Jordon Rooney Twitter account as a possible source of information (unconfirmed).