Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a primetime US National Football League game.
The 24-year-old player fell to the floor after colliding with an opponent during the first quarter of a match against Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin was rushed to a local hospital after receiving on-field medical attention.
The NFL suspended the game following the incident.
The Buffalo Bills later confirmed Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest in a statement, adding his heartbeat was restored on the field, the BBC reported.
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Videos show Hamlin tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins before falling backwards to the ground.
Hamlin’s friend and marketing rep Jordon Rooney said on Twitter:
“His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them.”
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ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter also said: “It is all about this young man and how he’s doing.”
“Everybody is thinking and praying for him, every team, every player, every individual, everybody who’s watching Monday night football, everybody who tuned in to see this highly anticipated game, nobody cares about that right now.”
It is rare that NFL games are suspended because of injury, commentators said the fact that gameplay had stalled was a sign of the severe nature of the emergency.
The league’s players’ association wrote in a statement: “We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well-being.”
