U.S. soccer player Damar Hamlin is “doing well” and has moved back to Buffalo — a week after he collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest, doctors say.
The 24-year-old NFL star was released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and flew back to Buffalo, where he will continue his recovery at another hospital.
HamlinHis heart had to restart after him sudden cardiac arrest against the Cincinnati Bengals last Monday night.
Paramedics rushed to the field and performed CPR on the Buffalo Bills player for about 10 minutes before he was taken from the stadium in an ambulance, leaving stunned players and spectators — including his parents — in shock. Watching silently from the side.
Hamlin then spent several days in intensive care at Ohio Medical Center, put on a ventilator, and recovered quickly.
Photo: Associated Press
Dr William Knight said he was “doing very well”, while another doctor, Dr Timothy Pritz, said: “We continue to be ecstatic about his recovery”.
Hamlin tweeted Monday night: “Returning home to Buffalo with so much love today. What an amazing feeling watching the world gather around me on Sunday.
“The same love you guys have shown me is the same love I plan to (and) give back more to the world. Bigger than football!”
He added in a subsequent post: “Thank you for the wonderful care I received at UCMC. Happy to be back in Buffalo.
“The doctors and nurses at Buffalo General already make me feel at home!”
A painting showing the number of Damar Hamlin is illuminated by candles during a prayer vigil outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati Tigers head coach Zach Taylor found out about Hamlin’s firing during a press conference.
Visibly moved, Taylor said: “You know, it’s incredible … it wasn’t even a week ago.
“God is great and he works miracles. It’s certainly a miracle, no doubt about it.
“You can’t say enough about it, the people responding on the scene gave him the best chance to do it.”
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Doctors said Hamlin had been walking since Friday and had been eating regular food.
Normal recovery from a cardiac arrest like this takes weeks to months, doctors say.
A few days after being described as “critically ill” in the hospital, Hamlin began to communicate in writing and then slowly began to speak.
On Saturday, the player took to social media to express his gratitude.
An ambulance was called to the field, and the Bills coach led the team in prayer as Hamlin left the stadium.
In a tweet, he thanked “everyone who reached out and prayed,” saying it would make him “stronger on the road to recovery.”
Hamlin kept in touch with teammates via FaceTime while bedridden in Cincinnati.
The Pittsburgh Steelers NFL team also honored players from the area on Saturday, delivering toys, books and school supplies to the children’s daycare center where the players host their annual toy drive.
Fans, players and team owners donated to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which had raised more than $8.2m (£7.7m) as of Saturday afternoon.