- Damar Hamlin is awake and responsive after three nights in the ICU, his doctors said Thursday.
- The Bills safety suffered cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field during Monday Night Football.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has "begun to awaken," his doctors from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said in a press conference Thursday.
The UC doctors said the NFL player — who collapsed during a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals and was rushed off the field in an ambulance — first woke up last night. He has been communicating with them via writing as he still has tubes down his throat.
When he first woke up, doctors said the player asked in writing who won Monday night's contest, which was postponed after Hamlin's on-field medical incident.
"You won. You've won the game of life," his doctors responded.
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Over the past 24 hours, signs of Hamlin's improvement have included waking up from his sleep, following commands, and moving his hands and feet, doctors said. They added that he was also able to hold hands with people by his bedside.
The 24-year-old has been in the ICU since Monday night, when he went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Though Hamlin initially rose to his feet following the play, he collapsed without bracing his fall a moment later.
Medical personnel rushed onto the field and administered an AED as well as performing nine minutes before Hamlin regained his heartbeat. Players looked on in shock and prayed together for his recovery as he was transported off the field in an ambulance.
The game between the Bills and Bengals was postponed, and both teammates and fans rushed to the hospital to offer support and prayers. It's unclear whether the NFL will resume the game ahead of the upcoming postseason.
Doctors have not said what caused Hamlin's cardiac arrest and said they are still performing tests on the second-year safety. His loved ones have expressed gratitude to the medical staff that resuscitated him after his collapse as well as those who have aided in his recovery in the days since.