New audio of the first responders who attended collapsed NFL star Damar Hamlin has revealed their urgency as they tried to save his life.
The game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was brought to a halt when Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field on Monday night. The 24-year-old Bills player was critically injured and had to be resuscitated before being rushed to the hospital where he has been treated ever since.
Hamlin reportedly began communicating with doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Centre via writing, officials said. His first question was reportedly “did we win,” referencing the game he was playing when he collapsed.
Doctors said his physician responded: “Yes, you won the game of life.”
In the recording obtained by the New York Times, medics first on the scene can be heard escalating the severity of the situation.
“I don’t like how he went down,” one man is heard saying.
“All-call, all-call,” says another, meaning all medical personnel are required. “Call, bring everybody. We need an airway doctor, everybody. Bring the cot with the medics.”
Hamlin’s condition is slowly improving. “There has been substantial improvement in the last 24 hours,” Dr Timothy Pritts said on Thursday. “We had significant concern, but he is making substantial progress. As of this morning, he is awaking.”
Dr Pritts said Mr Hamlin was doing well, though he still was in intensive care at the hospital in Cincinnati.
The doctors said testing was still ongoing, and that they were still unsure if Mr Hamlin had an underlying condition that resulted in the cardiac arrest. According to the doctors, the large number of skilled medical staff on hand during NFL games was crucial to ensuring both Mr Hamlin’s survival as well as the protection of his neurological functions following his malady.
Though his progress has impressed his doctors, they say its still “too early” to tell whether Mr Hamlin will be able to return to football after his injury. They said he was able to move his “hands and feet,” but said their next concern is helping Mr Hamlin begin breathing on his own again without the help of a ventilator.
