Teammates of American football player Damar Hamlin responded in prayer after he collapsed during an NFL game.
Medical staff rushed on to the field in Cincinnati to give Hamlin CPR following a collision with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins that impacted his chest.
About nine minutes into the game on Monday night, Hamlin tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard catch. Higgins rammed into Hamlin at full speed, hitting him in the head and chest area. Hamlin quickly stood up, took two steps and collapsed backward, and his body went limp.
The young player briefly got to his feet before falling to the ground, motionless. An ambulance was brought on to the field to administer CPR to the 24-year-old. He had to be resuscitated twice after suffering cardiac arrest.
Buffalo Bills players were seen taking to their knees to pray for their fellow teammate as he was taken away by emergency services.
The Buffalo Bills player was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Centre and remains in a critical condition.
The match between the Bills and Bengals was subsequently suspended.
Many supporters joined a vigil outside the hospital on Tuesday to pray for his return to health, some carried crosses.
Hamlin is still sedated after having to be resuscitated twice Monday, his uncle Dorrian Glenn told CNN outside of the University of Cincinnati hospital.
“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,” Glenn said.
Evangelist Franklin Graham applauded their response saying the team knew he needed help “only God can give”.
“The @BuffaloBills know who to call out to for help! The team dropped to their knees in a circle of prayer after Damar Hamlin was taken away via ambulance. They knew that he needed help that only God can give. Today, millions of people continue to pray for him—& I’m one of them,” Graham tweeted.
A quote from Hamlin himself during his college football days at the University of Pittsburgh is now ringing true for this situation as well. He said, “My faith is in God. So whatever He has planned for me, that’ll be it.”
Hamlin is on a ventilator while sedated to help with his breathing.
Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s representative, wrote on Twitter: “His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them.”
(Picture Courtesy: Reuters)
