Doctors: Bills S Damar Hamlin showing improvement, appears ‘neurologically intact’
Jan 5, 2023, 8:43 AM | Updated: 8:49 am
The Buffalo Bills said Thursday morning that doctors have seen major improvement in the health status of safety Damar Hamlin three days after he went into cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the team said in a release. “While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.
“We are grateful for the love and support we have received.”
Hamlin’s agency also put out a statement saying he has made “substantial improvement” overnight.
Damar Hamlin has been gripping the hands of those close to him. Another very positive sign. https://t.co/GpabbnqTWm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2023
Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter of the nationally televised game against the Bengals and was given medical treatment for nearly 20 minutes before being taken to a hospital. The game was suspended.
Though he was still under sedation on Wednesday, Hamlin’s recovery from cardiac arrest continued moving in “a positive direction,” the player’s marketing representative, Jordon Rooney, told The Associated Press by phone.
“We all remain optimistic,” Rooney said, adding that Hamlin’s family asked him not to go into further detail.
The Bills said Hamlin was still in critical condition but displayed signs of improvement. They said he was expected to remain in intensive care.
Rooney said Hamlin’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness the second-year player has received since being transported by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
“They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
