The NFL player who suffered cardiac arrest during the game is “starting to wake up” and has spoken to his medical team.
While Damar Hamlin is still on a ventilator and therefore unable to speak yet, the Buffalo Bills players wrote to ask doctors which team won the game, doctors said.
Hamlin, 24, fell on the pitch He required 10 minutes of CPR on the field after a tackle Monday in Cincinnati.
In a medical update, Dr. Timothy Pritz and Dr. William Knight of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said Hamlin’s “neurological condition and function appear to be intact.”
Dr Pritts said: “We would like to share that his condition has improved considerably in the past 24 hours.
Fans left messages outside the Cincinnati hospital where Hamlin was being treated.Photo: Associated Press
“After the injury and after the game on the field, we care about him very much and he is making substantial progress. As of this morning, he is starting to wake up and it appears that his neurological condition and function are intact.”
They added that Hamlin woke up Wednesday night and asked by writing whether the Bills had won the game.
The doctor answered him: “The answer is yes, DeMar, you won. You won the game of life.”
One doctor said his first question was about the outcome of the game, and “it wasn’t just that the lights went on — he went home.”
Hamlin remains in the intensive care unit and is able to move his hands and feet, doctors said.
Buffalo Bills players and staff pray for Hamlin.Photo: Associated Press
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who collided with Hamlin during the incident, said he is “in a good place right now” after hearing about Hamlin’s progress.
In his first comments after the incident, Higgins said: “It was tough just because I was connected to the game.
“But everyone has made me feel whole again. I’ve talked to his mum and it’s been fine. He’s doing great.”
The defensive back collapsed on the field after suffering a tackle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin then managed to stand up, appearing to adjust his helmet, before rolling backwards and lying motionless.
Beal said his heart stopped and was then “resuscitated” by medical staff on the field.
His jersey was cut off and he was reportedly put on oxygen.
The game was suspended and later postponed, and this weekend’s Bills game against the New England Patriots will go ahead as planned.