The NFL world is in shock after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed to the field, required CPR and was rushed to hospital by ambulance in the first quarter of the game against Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin made a tackle of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins and stood up, but then fell to his back and appeared unconscious.
Medical staff rushed to treat the 24-year-old, with CPR administered and the game suspended indefinitely.
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Social media was quickly flooded with people from the entire NFL community and beyond wishing the best for Hamlin’s health.
The game, by comparison, was a distant memory.
ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salter noted several of Hamlin’s Bills teammates were “openly crying”, such were the emotions running high.
“So much emotion down here on the Bills sideline right now,” Salter said.
“After Hamlin was taken away by the ambulance the players came to their sideline and they just looked devastated.
“Some players just sat staring out at the field, other players were hugging each other, others were openly weeping.
“At one point Stefon Diggs tried to re-focus everybody, he called everybody to gather around him. I could hear him trying to fire them up but after that again players back to the bench, looking devastated, hugging each other and openly crying.”
ESPN insider Adam Schefter added: “We haven’t seen a situation like this before. Until we know how he’s doing, nothing else matters.”
