EXPLAINER: What happened to Damar Hamlin?

>> THIS IS WLWT NEWS 5 LEADING THE WAY. >> I HAD NEVER HEARD A STADIUM SO SILENT. BILLS FANS AND CINCINNATI’S FANS CAME TOGETHER AND OUR HEARTS GOES OUT TO ALL OF THE PLAYERS. IT WAS TOUGH. KELLY: THE SUPPORT IS CONTINUING TO POUR IN AFTER DAMAR HAMLIN COLLAPSED AT PAYCOR STADIUM ON THE FIELD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. STEVEN: THE TEAM SAYS THAT HAMLIN SUFFERED A CARDIAC ARREST BEFORE THE GAME WAS SUSPENDED. FROM THE STADIUM TO THE HOSPITAL FRAN -- FANS AND TEAMMATES HAVE SHARED THEIR PRAYERS. KELLY: WE ARE LEADING THE WAY WITH THE REACTION. WE BEGIN WITH THE LATEST ON HIS CONDITION FROM JOHN LONDON WHO IS LIVE AT UC MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HAMLIN IS BEING TREATED. JOHN: YES. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THROUGH ALL OF THIS MORNING AND INTO NOON, IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE LAST NIGHT. A WORRY SOME AND AGONIZING WAIT FOR INSERT -- FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER HIS CONDITION IS IMPROVING. THOSE THAT -- THOSE IN CHARGE TELL US THAT THEY HAVE NO INDICATION THAT THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ANYTIME SOON. THAT COULD CHANGE IN AN INSTANT JUST AS IT COULD REMAIN THE CASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND BEYOND. LAST FORMAL UPDATE WAS ABOUT 2:00 A.M. INDICATING THAT THE SAFETY WAS SEDATED AND IN CRITICAL CONDITION. LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA REMAINED CAMPED OUT WITH SOME FANS THAT HAVE COME BY PERIODICALLY TO PAUSE AT THE FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL INCLUDING THIS WEST VIRGINIA DAD WHO GOT TICKETS FOR HIS SON FOR CHRISTMAS, HIS FIRST NFL GAME, SHOWING A CONCERN SHARED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. >> AS MUCH AS WE WANTED TO WATCH GOOD FOOTBALL, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN -- THIS IS BIGGER THAN THAT. THAT IS ME. I AM PRAYING FOR HIM, THE TEAMMATES, AND FAMILY AND EVERYONE INVOLVED. THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS ALL SIDES LAST NIGHT, YOU KNOW FANS AND BOTH TEAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS WERE VERY CLASSY AND TOP-NOTCH. >> I AM NOT SPEAKING TO YOU GUYS, NOT -- BUT TO HIM, TO THE LORD. THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO SPEAKING -- THEN SPEAKING TO A CAMERA. I COULD NOT DO THAT, WITHOUT SAYING MY CONDOLENCES OR PRAYERS AND I HAD TO BE HERE. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL BUT I WOULD’VE JUST SECOND-GUESSED. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE STICK WITH OUR GUYS. JOHN: IT CERTAINLY WAS A STUNNED AND EERIE INVOLVEMENT -- ENVIRONMENT LAST NIGHT AT PAYCOR STADIUM AND AN ANXIOUS ATMOSPHERE OUTSIDE. THE MEDIA IS HOPING SOMETHING ENCOURAGING WILL COME TO REPORT SOMETIME TODAY, BUT NOTHING YET. REPORTING LIVE, JOHN LONDON. KELLY: WE RECEIVED A STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY. THEY PUT A PUBLIC STATEMENT OUT EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT. "WE ARE DEEPLY MOVED BY THE PRAYERS, KIND WORDS, AND DONATIONS FROM FANS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEDICATED FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MEDICAL CENTER HAVE PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL CARE." THAT IS THE LATEST WE ARE GETTING IN THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HEARING FROM THEM DIRECTLY. STEVEN: THAT IS SOMETHING THA

Video above: Family of Damar Hamlin shares message thanking fans, health care staffBuffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during Monday night's game, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience."Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment," the Bills said in a statement released early Tuesday. "He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition."The 24-year-old Hamlin was administered CPR on the field. Teammates surrounded Hamlin, shielding him from public view. Many were weeping and praying while Hamlin was treated on the field by team and independent medical personnel and local paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later went to visit Hamlin at the hospital while fans of both teams gathered outside, holding lit candles and praying. Video below: Cincinnati rallies behind Damar HamlinWhat happened to Hamlin?Hamlin was hurt while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins on a seemingly routine play that didn't appear unusually violent.Higgins was running with the ball on a 13-yard pass from Joe Burrow when he led with his right shoulder, hitting Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins' shoulders and helmet to drag him down. Hamlin quickly got to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backward about three seconds later and lay motionless.Hamlin was down for 19 minutes while receiving medical attention. Video below: Baltimore cardiologist explains what's behind cardiac arrestWhat could have caused Hamlin's cardiac arrest?Cardiac specialists say it's too soon to know what caused Hamlin's heart to stop, but a rare type of trauma called commotio cordis is among the possible culprits. Commotio cordis occurs when a severe blow to the chest causes the heartbeat to quiver, leading to sudden cardiac arrest.The condition only happens during a rare set of circumstances: when a sharp hit lands directly over the heart "at the exact wrong location at the exact wrong timing" during the heart's rhythm cycle, said Dr. Rod Passman, director of the center for arrythmia research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.Commotio cordis occurs "probably 20 times a year,'' and about 60% of those affected survive, said heart rhythm specialist Dr. Mark Link of UT Southwestern Medical Center. The main worry for survivors is brain damage from lack of oxygen when the heart stops pumping blood, Link said. Doctors can help reduce that risk with deep sedation to give the brain a rest, he said.Dr. Aman Chugh, a University of Michigan cardiology professor, noted that hard-hitting tackles are extremely common in football and that commotio cordis is extremely rare. It could be that Hamlin had a pre-existing heart condition that caused his heart to stop, although that is speculative, Chugh said.In general, underlying heart disease is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest, said Dr. Mariell Jessup, the American Heart Association's chief medical officer."It is not uncommon to find out that very vigorous athletes have undiagnosed cardiac conditions even if they're young players," she said.More than 365,000 people in the U.S. have sudden cardiac arrests in non-hospital settings each year, according to the American Heart Association. Survival depends on quick CPR and shocking the heart back into a normal rhythm, as reportedly happened with Hamlin."The teachable moment is learn CPR,'' Jessup said.Hamlin's medical history has not been made public.Video below: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Damar Hamlin: 'It's a really personal thing for me' What took so long to postpone the game?It took the NFL about one hour after Hamlin collapsed to officially suspend the game because league executives were gathering information and communicating with referee Shawn Smith, coaches from both teams and the NFL Players Association.Troy Vincent, the league's executive vice president of football operations, said that the NFL's Emergency Action Plan was activated. Vincent communicated with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. Dawn Aponte, the league's chief football administrative officer, was at the game and communicated with Bills coach Sean McDermott and Bengals coach Zac Taylor and the referee."It was fluid and things were changing by the minute," Vincent said. "It was obvious on the phone that the emotions were extremely high. It was a very volatile situation."Vincent refuted ESPN's broadcast report that both teams were given a five-minute warmup period to resume playing."I'm not sure where that came from," Vincent said. "It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That's ridiculous. That's insensitive. That's not a place we should ever be in."Who is Hamlin?Hamlin spent five years of college at Pittsburgh — his hometown — and appeared in 48 games for the Panthers over that span. He was a second-team All-ACC performer as a senior, was voted a team captain and was picked to play in the Senior Bowl.Drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, Hamlin played in 14 games as a rookie and then became a starter this season after Micah Hyde was injured.In 2020, Hamlin began organizing an annual Christmas toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. By early Tuesday, a community toy drive organized by Hamlin had surged to more than $3.1 million in donations. His stated goal was $2,500.Bills offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, in a post on Twitter, described Hamlin as a "kind, caring, extremely hard worker." Saffold wrote that Hamlin is "loyal, honest and can always put a smile on your face. He is more than an athlete, he is a son and brother."Video below: Fans raise more than $3,000,000 for Damar Hamlin's toy drive: Here's how to donateWhat's next for the NFL?The Bills-Bengals game was postponed indefinitely, and the NFL announced Tuesday that it will not be resumed this week despite major playoff implications.Both teams are battling for the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Bills (12-3) entered the game in the top spot while the Bengals (11-4) had a chance to clinch the AFC North with a victory and also were in the mix for the No. 1 seed along with Kansas City (13-3).The Bengals led 7-3 in the first quarter when the game was stopped. The NFL has made no decision regarding a possible resumption at a later date.The NFL is entering the final week of the regular season, and the playoffs are scheduled to begin Jan. 14.___AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed from Chicago.

Video above: Family of Damar Hamlin shares message thanking fans, health care staff

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during Monday night's game, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience.

"Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment," the Bills said in a statement released early Tuesday. "He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition."

The 24-year-old Hamlin was administered CPR on the field. Teammates surrounded Hamlin, shielding him from public view. Many were weeping and praying while Hamlin was treated on the field by team and independent medical personnel and local paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later went to visit Hamlin at the hospital while fans of both teams gathered outside, holding lit candles and praying.

Video below: Cincinnati rallies behind Damar Hamlin

What happened to Hamlin?

Hamlin was hurt while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins on a seemingly routine play that didn't appear unusually violent.

Higgins was running with the ball on a 13-yard pass from Joe Burrow when he led with his right shoulder, hitting Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins' shoulders and helmet to drag him down. Hamlin quickly got to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backward about three seconds later and lay motionless.

Hamlin was down for 19 minutes while receiving medical attention.

Video below: Baltimore cardiologist explains what's behind cardiac arrest

What could have caused Hamlin's cardiac arrest?

Cardiac specialists say it's too soon to know what caused Hamlin's heart to stop, but a rare type of trauma called commotio cordis is among the possible culprits. Commotio cordis occurs when a severe blow to the chest causes the heartbeat to quiver, leading to sudden cardiac arrest.

The condition only happens during a rare set of circumstances: when a sharp hit lands directly over the heart "at the exact wrong location at the exact wrong timing" during the heart's rhythm cycle, said Dr. Rod Passman, director of the center for arrythmia research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Commotio cordis occurs "probably 20 times a year,'' and about 60% of those affected survive, said heart rhythm specialist Dr. Mark Link of UT Southwestern Medical Center. The main worry for survivors is brain damage from lack of oxygen when the heart stops pumping blood, Link said. Doctors can help reduce that risk with deep sedation to give the brain a rest, he said.

Dr. Aman Chugh, a University of Michigan cardiology professor, noted that hard-hitting tackles are extremely common in football and that commotio cordis is extremely rare. It could be that Hamlin had a pre-existing heart condition that caused his heart to stop, although that is speculative, Chugh said.

In general, underlying heart disease is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest, said Dr. Mariell Jessup, the American Heart Association's chief medical officer.

"It is not uncommon to find out that very vigorous athletes have undiagnosed cardiac conditions even if they're young players," she said.

More than 365,000 people in the U.S. have sudden cardiac arrests in non-hospital settings each year, according to the American Heart Association. Survival depends on quick CPR and shocking the heart back into a normal rhythm, as reportedly happened with Hamlin.

"The teachable moment is learn CPR,'' Jessup said.

Hamlin's medical history has not been made public.

Video below: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Damar Hamlin: 'It's a really personal thing for me'

What took so long to postpone the game?

It took the NFL about one hour after Hamlin collapsed to officially suspend the game because league executives were gathering information and communicating with referee Shawn Smith, coaches from both teams and the NFL Players Association.

Troy Vincent, the league's executive vice president of football operations, said that the NFL's Emergency Action Plan was activated. Vincent communicated with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. Dawn Aponte, the league's chief football administrative officer, was at the game and communicated with Bills coach Sean McDermott and Bengals coach Zac Taylor and the referee.

"It was fluid and things were changing by the minute," Vincent said. "It was obvious on the phone that the emotions were extremely high. It was a very volatile situation."

Vincent refuted ESPN's broadcast report that both teams were given a five-minute warmup period to resume playing.

"I'm not sure where that came from," Vincent said. "It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That's ridiculous. That's insensitive. That's not a place we should ever be in."

Who is Hamlin?

Hamlin spent five years of college at Pittsburgh — his hometown — and appeared in 48 games for the Panthers over that span. He was a second-team All-ACC performer as a senior, was voted a team captain and was picked to play in the Senior Bowl.

Drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, Hamlin played in 14 games as a rookie and then became a starter this season after Micah Hyde was injured.

In 2020, Hamlin began organizing an annual Christmas toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. By early Tuesday, a community toy drive organized by Hamlin had surged to more than $3.1 million in donations. His stated goal was $2,500.

Bills offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, in a post on Twitter, described Hamlin as a "kind, caring, extremely hard worker." Saffold wrote that Hamlin is "loyal, honest and can always put a smile on your face. He is more than an athlete, he is a son and brother."

Video below: Fans raise more than $3,000,000 for Damar Hamlin's toy drive: Here's how to donate

What's next for the NFL?

The Bills-Bengals game was postponed indefinitely, and the NFL announced Tuesday that it will not be resumed this week despite major playoff implications.

Both teams are battling for the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Bills (12-3) entered the game in the top spot while the Bengals (11-4) had a chance to clinch the AFC North with a victory and also were in the mix for the No. 1 seed along with Kansas City (13-3).

The Bengals led 7-3 in the first quarter when the game was stopped. The NFL has made no decision regarding a possible resumption at a later date.

The NFL is entering the final week of the regular season, and the playoffs are scheduled to begin Jan. 14.

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed from Chicago.

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