Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills’ safety, has been cleared to resume playing after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game last season and needing his heart restarted on the NFL field, three months ago.
On January 2nd, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a frightening scene unfolded in front of a packed stadium and television audience in the US. After making a routine tackle, Hamlin collapsed on the field and received life-saving CPR moments later.
The recuperation of the individual in their mid-twenties captivated the world of sports, with Hamlin receiving a flood of support from all around the world.
On Tuesday, Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated in a tweet from the club’s Twitter account that he has been given the go-ahead to return to his regular duties, similar to any other individual recovering from an injury.
He’s in a great headspace and he’s back to his original state, fully cleared.
Per GM Brandon Beane, Damar Hamlin has been cleared to resume full football activities.@HamlinIsland is in Buffalo and in a great headspace. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/wa2ZfGm8mX
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 18, 2023
Beane mentioned that the approval was granted after the player consulted with a third and final expert on Friday.
Beane said that the team is taking guidance from the experts. Although the Bills had their own physician present during Hamlin’s consultations with specialists, Beane stated that three specialists concurred that Hamlin was capable of returning to full activity.
When Hamlin was rushed to a hospital in Cincinnati three months ago, the outcome seemed impossible, with his condition being critical as he was placed on a ventilator and sedated.
He remained in the hospital for several days, while fans held vigils and fellow players and team members rallied around him, wearing Hamlin-inspired apparel and expressing their support and love for the NFL team’s games.
Prior to the playoffs, the Cincinnati team suffered a season-ending loss of 27-10, and the player eventually visited the Bills’ facility. The second-year player, Rocks McKees, spent nearly 10 days recovering in hospitals in Buffalo and Cincinnati, as he hails from the exurb of Pittsburgh.
Damar Hamlin is working out with the team today in Buffalo.
Glad to have you back, 3. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/n80HheSIaG
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 18, 2023
Hamlin has subsequently made multiple appearances throughout the United States, including a meeting with President Joe Biden last month.
He was presented with the Alan Page Community Award by the NFL Players Association, which happened during the Super Bowl celebrations in Arizona in February. The Bills’ and Bengals’ training and medical personnel, as well as the first responders who attended to him, were recognized by the NFL in a pregame event in which he also participated.
Hamlin said he was committed to educating the public on the merits of life-saving techniques and CPR training by partnering with the American Heart Association to provide free videos and tutorials on defibrillator and breathing emergencies as part of a national program.
Hamlin has started 13 games out of 29 with the Bills, accumulating 93 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four passes defended. Buffalo selected him in the 2021 NFL Draft as a sixth-round pick.