Damar Hamlin in critical condition following MNF cardiac arrest

Update, 1/3/2022, 2:24 p.m. EST: Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the family of Damar Hamlin issued a statement.

Original story: Damar Hamlin, a second-year safety with the Buffalo Bills, collapsed on the field during the first quarter of the game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. He received emergency care on the field, and was transported to UC Medical Center, where he was in critical condition as of late Monday evening.

Hamlin, who initially stood up after completing a tackle on wide receiver Tee Higgins, went limp and collapsed on the turf. Medical personnel rushed to the field, and Hamlin’s teammates surrounded him. Very scary moments followed, as CPR and AED shocks were both administered before an IV was started and Hamlin was taken off the field by ambulance.

Very early on Tuesday morning, the Bills confirmed that Hamlin had suffered a cardiac arrest following the hit.

Players were stunned, visibly upset, crying, and offering prayers for Hamlin. The team put out a tweet expressing the feelings of all of Bills Mafia.

This is uncharted territory for the NFL. While ambulances have been brought to the field, CPR has not been administered to a player during a game in the past. With uncertainty as to how to proceed, the game was temporarily suspended, and both teams returned to their locker rooms. The game has now been suspended indefinitely.

In the wake of the injury, fans around the NFL have begun donating to Hamlin’s charity of choice. The total is about to pass $2 million in a short period of time.