Damar Hamlin: Dion Dawkins opens up on Bills’ player’s cardiac arrest

Buffalo Bills’ Dion Dawkins has become the first teammate of hospitalized Damar Hamlin to speak out about his cardiac arrest on the field.

Hamlin, 24, is said to be in an “upward trend” but remains sedated and in critical condition in the ICU some 36 hours after collapsing and receiving CPR in the field.

The family revealed that the player suffered “lung damage” after being resuscitated twice in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night and one of Hamlin’s teammates has opened up about the scary moment.

Buffalo Bills’ Dion Dawkins (left) recalled the moment hospitalized Damar Hamlin (right) collapsed

“You look around and you see the medical staff doing their job, and you know when it’s something minor, like somebody’s down, but they’re sitting down, guys are moving at a good pace,” the offensive tackle told CNN Tuesday night. evening. .

“But when things like this happen, they’re waving real quick and calling the guys on the field and calling the elite medical staff, that’s when you really realize something is really wrong.

“This was one of the first experiences for me where something like that happened this way, where it silenced an entire stadium that was in an uproar half a play earlier.”

Hamlin was rushed to the hospital, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, after colliding with the Bengals’ Tee Higgins in the first quarter of a Monday Night Football game.

Higgins addressed the well wishes sent to Hamlin on Twitter, writing: ‘My thoughts and prayers are with @HamlinIslandthe Hamlin Family. I’m praying you pull through, brother. Love.’

On the play, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin was injured, Higgins leading with his right shoulder, which struck the defense in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to drag him down.

Hamlin (No. 3) got to his feet briefly after making a tackle on Tee Higgins before falling backwards in shocking scenes as the Buffalo Bills played the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin collapsed moments later, falling backwards and lying motionless on the ground.

Bills players were visibly stunned when their teammate received emergency treatment on the field.

Hamlin scrambled to his feet, appeared to adjust his mask with his right hand, then fell back about three seconds later and lay still.

The Bills safety was surrounded by players from both sides and treated for 16 minutes before being pinned and carried off the field. As medical personnel gathered around Hamlin, they cut off his game uniform.

Players from both teams were visibly stunned by what happened, with many crying on the field.

Many players accepted, including Buffalo quarterbacks Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. The game was postponed by the NFL.

Dawkins added: “Whether you’re a believer or not, only a higher power can truly take control of what’s next.” Our people who helped also helped that higher power. But in that moment you have to be vulnerable and let the prayer come up and do its magic.’

The NFL confirmed that the Bills-Bengals game will not resume this week after the postponement. The league also denied reports that they planned to continue play on Monday night.

“I’m really blessed that we didn’t have to keep playing,” Dawkins continued. “The fact that we didn’t have to go back on that field and play just shows that there is care, and that’s all we can ask for is to be treated like people.

“Most people just treat us like athletes, like superstars, and some people like celebrities, but at that point they [the NFL] he treated us like people. And to be treated like a cared for person is a beautiful feeling.’