Cincinnati: Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital after collapsing on the field with cardiac arrest Monday night in a game against the Bengals that was postponed.
The Bills announced his diagnosis of cardiac arrest early Tuesday morning, hours after he left the stadium in an ambulance.
Part-way through the first quarter, Hamlin took a hard hit during a tackle, stood up and then collapsed to the floor.
He received medical attention for over 30 minutes, with ESPN reporting that he had received CPR.
Players from both NFL teams gathered around Hamlin during the treatment, with many of them kneeling to pray and some openly weeping.
The crowd in Cincinnati remained silent and television coverage broke away from the scene on the field.
ESPN said the 24-year-old Hamlin was provided with oxygen as he left after being placed on a stretcher and that his family, watching the game, joined him in the ambulance.
Reports said Hamlin had been taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, about four miles (six kilometers) away.
Reports said Hamlin had been taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, about four miles (six kilometers) away.
After the ambulance left the field, reports initially suggested the game was going to restart following a five minute warm-up.
But once the two team’s coaches conferred with referees, players were told to head to the locker room, while the game was announced “temporarily suspended.”
The NFL then issued a statement saying that league commissioner Roger Goodell had announced the game had been postponed and gave details of Hamlin’s condition.
