On January 2, 2023, during a match against the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Hamlin made a tackle, but then he passed out after hitting the ground.
Hamlin was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center when he went into cardiac arrest and was treated there. Hamlin’s heart had stopped, but CPR and a defibrillator brought him back to life. In a statement, Damar Hamlin explained what led to his cardiac arrest.
In early January, Hamlin, a defensive back for the Buffalo Bills, slumped on the field after making a routine tackle on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. He later informed media about his plans to return to the NFL and what doctors had told him about his near-deἀth experience.
Hamlin said –
“The diagnosis of what happened to me was commotio cordis.”
“It’s a direct blow at a specific point in your heartbeat that causes cardiac arrest. Five to seven seconds later, you fall out, and that’s pretty much what everybody’s seen Jan. 2 of this year.”
“Commotio cordis is the leading cause of deἀth in youth athletes across all sports, so that’s something that I will personally be taking a step in to make a change.”
Hamlin, now 25, elaborated on his reasons for wanting to play football again.
“My heart is still in it.”
“My heart is still in the game. I love the game. It’s something I want to prove to myself, not nobody else, I just want to show people that fear is a choice and you can keep going in something without knowing what’s at the end of the tunnel.”
“You might feel anxious or any type of way but you just keep putting your right foot in front of the left foot and you keep going.”
In case you hadn’t heard, Louis Tomlinson is going to be an uncle again. Phoebe Tomlinson, the former One Direction singer’s younger sister, shared the news on social media today (19 June) that she is pregnant with her first child:
The Bills have stated that Hamlin is healthy enough to return to football. Hamlin said in his press conference, “I dἰed on national TV in front of the whole world,” and that he plans to use his near-deἀth experience to try to stop similar things from happening to others.
Hamlin’s marketing representative, Jordon Rooney of Jaster Athletes, criticized anyone who speculated about alternative causes for Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.
Rooney wrote on Twitter –
“For months Damar dealt with scrutiny as he recovered from this. There were outrageous theories on his medical condition. Every single doctor said commotio cordis. He experienced life-altering trauma and wanted to finish his medical testing before officially speaking publicly.”
“The talk about the vaccine and accusations around him ‘hiding things’ were completely untrue and slanderous. Every medical expert said commotio cordis. Imagine dying on national TV and have thousands of people questioning your deἀth and how you’re handling your trauma.”
Commotio cordis is an extremely unusual yet potentially fatal illness that affects otherwise healthy young people. Knowing the signs of commotio cordis and getting help quickly if you have any of them is crucial. You can also lower your chance of commotio cordis by wearing protective gear when playing sports and being aware of the condition.
