Damar Hamlin’s rep, family provide update after on-field collapse: ‘He’s a fighter’
A representative for Bills safety Damar Hamlin provided an update Tuesday morning, hours after the 24-year-old suffered cardiac arrest before collapsing on the field during Monday night’s game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Jordon Rooney, who serves as Hamlin’s marketing representative, spoke briefly on “Good Morning America,” where he expressed how the Bills defender is “a fighter.”
“I can’t speak specifically on his medical condition, I will say is that he’s fighting, he’s a fighter, I felt like, in the moment, if there needed to be some clarity that he was awake at that time, now he’s sedated.”
Rooney added that while Hamlin’s family is taking the situation “minute by minute, hour by hour,” they’re in “good spirits.”
“His family is remarkable,” Rooney said. “They are a tremendous group of people. They’re strong and they’re supportive. They’re obviously worried. Damar is very close with his family.”
The horrifying ordeal unfolded late in the first quarter of the Bills’ “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Bengals, when Hamlin initially tackled Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins. As Hamlin attempted to get back up, he fell back to the ground and was immediately tended to by medical personnel, who performed CPR on the field.
An ambulance then rushed Hamlin to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The game was later suspended as a result.
Rooney provided an update on Hamlin’s condition Monday evening, saying in part that his “vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat.” The Bills stated early Tuesday morning that Hamlin “is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”
The Bills issued an additional statement on Hamlin’s condition Tuesday afternoon, posting on Twitter: “Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.”
Hamlin’s family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received in the wake of the terrifying incident, stating Tuesday that they have been “deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.”
“We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical center who have provided exceptional care to Damar,” the statement continued.
“We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach [Zac] Taylor and the Bengals for everything they’ve done. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers.”