Players from both the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals were reduced to tears following Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest during their NFL clash on Monday night.
The Bills confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday morning that safety Hamlin remained in a critical condition at University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. The 24-year-old was transported via ambulance to the site after requiring CPR and defibrillation on-field following a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
Many of Hamlin's Bills team-mates were sent into shock by the incident, including quarterback Josh Allen, who embraced Bengals counterpart Joe Burrow as the two teams came together. Fellow defensive backs Siran Neal and Tre'Davious White appeared particularly distressed at seeing their comrade lay motionless at Paycor Stadium, burying their heads in their hands and wiping tears away with their jerseys.
Buffalo's Stefon Diggs was also seen staring into the distance with floods of tears running down his cheeks. The star wide-out was later one of those seen arriving at the Academic Health Center's emergency department as numerous Bills players remained to be close to their stricken team-mate.
An ESPN reporter described Hamlin as "incredibly well-liked" and "one of those guys people root for." The former Pittsburgh college prospect was filling in for injured safety Micah Hyde, who suffered a neck injury in Week 2.
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The NFL suspended the game for around an hour before the decision was made to abandon the match altogether. NBA superstar LeBron James was among those to support that decision and said: "[NFL commissioner] Roger Goodell or whoever had an opportunity, the authority to make that call to suspend – the safety of players in all sports is always the most important."
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hugs Bengals counterpart Joe Burrow (ESPN TV Grab)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Siran Neal in tears following Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest (ESPN TV Grab)What was touted a top-tier clash in the AFC quickly descended into despair following Hamlin's collapse. His injury came five minutes and 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Hamlin appeared to hit Higgins with a routine tackle.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to @HamlinIsland [and] the Hamlin family," tweeted Higgins following Monday's tragic on-field events. "I'm praying that you pull through bro. Love."
Hamlin's agent, Ira Turner, said in the early hours of Tuesday morning that he had "no update at this time." However, the Agency 1 representative asked the public to 'keep his family in your prayers'.
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