Damar Hamlin speaks out on two-year anniversary of his near-fatal cardiac arrest during Bills-Bengals game
Damar Hamlin and the 13-3 Buffalo Bills enter this month’s NFL playoffs as Super Bowl contenders, but the 26-year-old safety had a much better reason to celebrate Thursday.
Now two years removed from the on-field cardiac arrest that nearly killed him, Hamlin reflected on his journey on social media, where he received another outpouring of support.
“I wish everyone could experience even an ounce of the amount of love I received.” Hamlin wrote on Instagram.
‘The grace that God showed… his mercy and his faithfulness!! I appreciate every ounce of support, but am still trying to contact everyone who checked in. I also enjoy the presence of those who were there for me most! 2 years later I still show that I’m here for a real reason.
Hamlin famously collapsed on the lawn in Cincinnati after a hit on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins two years ago, forcing emergency responders to restart his heart on the field before rushing him to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery.
Doctors eventually determined that Hamlin was a victim of commotio cordis – a rare condition in which the heart rhythm is disrupted by a blow to the chest.
These days, Damar Hamlin is back on the field as a starter for the playoff-bound Buffalo Bills
Hamlin collapsed on the lawn in Cincinnati after taking a hit on Bengals star Tee Higgins two years ago
Damar Hamlin is seen with friends and supporters two years after his cardiac arrest
Hamlin is seen with family members after the emergency surgery that saved his life in 2023
Since then, Hamlin has helped raise awareness about the importance of emergency medical treatment and even helped create a bill in Congress that will introduce defibrillators into schools and improve access to CPR training.
The bill has now been signed into law by President Joe Biden.
He has also returned to the pitch, where he has flourished since returning to the starting line-up this season.
‘grow and not just contact me, but take the entire system to the next level!!’ Hamlin wrote on Instagram.
‘It’s like I don’t even want to talk about it because I get so emotional and it’s so close to home and I’ve always been a private person, but I know God wouldn’t have it any other way!
‘Life is a gift, make sure you cherish every second and show love to the people you love and who love you. Never know when that time might be and that’s real!’
Buffalo Bills players are praying for teammate Damar Hamlin after he collapsed in 2023
Buffalo Bills fans cheer and hold a sign in support of safety Damar Hamlin (not pictured) before an NFL wild card game against the Miami Dolphins in January 2023
People pray during a prayer vigil for Hamlin outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center
One of many murals that surfaced showing Hamlin making a “heart” sign with his hands
Damar Hamlin helped draft a bill that would provide public resuscitation equipment and training
Hamlin walks the sidelines before Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Arizona
Hamlin admitted months after the terrifying episode that his heart actually stopped as he lay on the lawn in Cincinnati.
“I died on national television in front of the world,” Hamlin said in April 2023. “It’s [commotio cordis] a direct blow to a specific point in your heartbeat that causes cardiac arrest.
“Five to seven seconds later you fall out and that’s pretty much what everyone saw on January 2 this year.”
The match was stopped and ultimately not resumed.
In addition to his return to the field, Hamlin has also become a philanthropist, raising $9.1 million for a community toy drive and another $1 million for another nonprofit, according to Pro Football Talk.
He also created his own foundation while working with the American Heart Association on a campaign to raise awareness about CPR training.