Damar Hamlin breaks down in tears and receives a standing ovation as he presents the ESPY Award for Service to the Bills’ training staff… six months after they saved his life on the field
- Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field in early January
- He will return to the NFL this season after a miraculous recovery
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
An emotional Damar Hamlin paid tribute to the Buffalo Bills training staff who saved his life as he presented them with an ESPY Award for Service Wednesday night.
Less than seven months after going into cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday Night Football game for the Buffalo Bills, Hamlin – now 25 – is preparing for his near-miraculous return to the NFL.
That incredible return to fitness, and the fact that Hamlin is alive today, is solely due to the medical staff who treated him in the immediate aftermath of the Cincinnati incident.
On Wednesday, the Bills training staff, led by Denny Kellington, received the Pat Tillman Award for Service in Hollywood at ESPYS 2023, with Hamlin present to present the trophy onstage at the Dolby Theater.
There was a touching moment leading up to the team’s presentation of the award, when Hamlin stood on the podium and struggled to keep his emotions in check.
Damar Hamlin wipes away tears as he is overcome with emotion at the ESPY Awards
Buffalo Bills safety presented an award to the medical team that saved his life
The Bills team treating Hamlin wrapped their arms around him on stage at the Dolby Theater
Hamlin (right) looks on less than seven months after going into cardiac arrest on the field
As he collected himself, the Buffalo Bills safety received a standing ovation from the crowd, with the camera immediately cutting to Hamlin’s crying family in the audience, as well as fellow NFL star Travis Kelce.
When the applause finally subsided, Hamlin was able to welcome the team to the stage, where they hugged the player in front of the audience.
The touching moment did little to dry eyes at home, and the emotion will only continue as Hamlin approaches his unlikely return to the pitch in the 2023 season.
Hamlin greets NFL rival – and friend – Travis Kelce ahead of the ceremony in Hollywood
Hamlin poses for a photo with the Pat Tillman Service Award at the 2023 ESPYs in LA
The 25-year-old is practicing with his teammates and is expected to return to normal before the new season, although it is unclear how Bills’ staff will handle his playing time.
Hamlin has been on a ‘CPR Tour across America that started in Buffalo early June – the way the player tries to give back to the first responders who used CPR to save his life.
“I just want to be able to… take a nation of bystanders and turn them into lifesavers and give them some real superpower,” Hamlin said.
‘Being able to save a life is a real superpower. Instead of people watching and not knowing what to do, I’m just trying to create more people who do know what to do. This weekend specifically, people in my community.”