Damar Hamlin Resuscitated Twice After Collapsing At Bills Game, Uncle Says

Topline

The uncle of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin told CNN on Tuesday his nephew had to be resuscitated both on the field and at a hospital after suffering cardiac arrest during the Bills’ Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a new detail as the 24-year-old remains in critical condition almost a full day after the shocking injury.

Stunned Buffalo Bills players react after safety Damar Hamlin collapsed at Paycor Stadium in … [+] Cincinnati, Ohio, on Monday.. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Dorrian Glenn, Hamlin’s uncle, told CNN the player is still sedated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but believes “he’s trending upwards in a positive way.”

He said in a separate interview with NFL Network that doctors have reduced the amount of oxygen Hamlin is receiving from a ventilator as they focus on healing his lungs and getting him to breathe on his own.

The Bills said Tuesday afternoon that Hamlin is still in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after spending the night there.

The NFL announced Tuesday the game—which was suspended with 5:58 left in the first quarter—will not be played this week, leaving it unclear when it could be completed or whether the matchup will even be played out at all.

What To Watch For

Plans for games this weekend—the final matchups of the regular season—remain in place, according to the NFL, with the Bills set to host the New England Patriots and the Bengals scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens.

Key Background

Hamlin received CPR on the field for several minutes as medical staff used a defibrillator to restore his pulse before an ambulance took him from the field to the hospital. Many stunned players openly wept as the scene played out, and it quickly became clear initial plans to restart the game would not move forward. The NFL officially postponed the game about an hour after stopping play.

Surprising Fact

Monday night’s game was hyped as a matchup between Super Bowl contenders and a battle for the top seed in the AFC, with the Bengals heading into the contest on a seven-game win streak, while the Bills had won six in a row. It’s unclear how the league might proceed into the playoffs with the result of such a critical game in question.

Big Number

More than $4.4 million. That’s how much in donations have poured in to a community toy drive sponsored by Hamlin. The GoFundMe goal for the drive was $2,500.

Damar Hamlin Resuscitated Twice After Collapsing At Bills Game, Uncle Says—Here’s What We Know