Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is awake.
Hamlin’s agent, Rob Butler, said Thursday that the NFL player is conscious and “holding hands with his family at a hospital,” according to CNN.
The announcement came shortly after Bills shared an update from Hamlin’s doctors, who said he had made “marked improvement” over the past 24 hours.
Read more: Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin makes ‘progress’ but remains in critical condition
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Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin is making “progress” but remains in critical condition
Hamlin’s doctors told CBS that he had the Bills-Bengals game on his mind after he woke up. They said Hamlin asked if his team had won Monday’s game, which included his frightening collapse on the field.
The doctors reportedly replied: “Yes Damar, you won. You won the game of life.”
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Damar Hamlin was alert enough to ask the doctors who won the game.
Their response: “Damar, you won. You won the game of life.” pic.twitter.com/PFYOl0Crfu
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 5, 2023
In a statement shared by the team on Thursday, the Bills revealed that Hamlin, 24, is still critically ill but appears to be “neurologically intact.”
pic.twitter.com/4Fyd2JZVLb
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 5, 2023
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The NFL team also mentioned the lung damage Hamlin suffered as a result of his injury. Hamlin’s uncle told reporters earlier this week that the athlete, who is in intensive care, was intubated and “turned on his stomach” to help reduce pressure on his lungs.
Bills said Hamlin is making “steady progress.” That matches earlier statements from Hamlin’s family, which said the defensive lineman was intubated with 50 percent support Wednesday, an improvement from the 100 percent support he was on when he arrived at the hospital.
3:10 Damar Hamlin’s collapse: Fans horrified after Buffalo Bills player goes into cardiac arrest on field
Hamlin had to be resuscitated on the football field after going into cardiac arrest during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The injury occurred after Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
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The play was not particularly violent or unusual. As Hamlin tackled, Higgins’ right shoulder hit Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to pull him down. Hamlin quickly scrambled to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backwards onto the field, where he remained motionless.
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Hamlin lay on the football field for several minutes while receiving medical attention. In an emotional display, several other Bills players shielded Hamlin from publicity.
Read more: Damar Hamlin’s collapse reignites NFL safety debate. Is the league insufficient?
Hamlin’s shocking collapse during a game sparked an outpouring of concern and sympathy from NFL fans and beyond.
Even US President Joe Biden is concerned about Hamlin’s health. On Wednesday, the president told reporters that he had spoken with Hamlin’s mother and father “extensively” about the athlete’s condition.
Biden did not mention the specifics of his conversation with Hamlin’s parents.
Later, the president was asked about the safety of NFL players, but said he didn’t believe football was getting too dangerous.
President Joe Biden spoke to Damar Hamlin’s father and mother “at length” today.
Biden said he doesn’t think the NFL has become too cruel. “I think working on helmets, concussion protocols, that makes a lot of sense.”pic.twitter.com/OAE06FaWIx
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 4, 2023
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Instead, the president proposed having improved safety equipment and protocol for NFL players.
“I think working the hell out of the helmets, the concussion protocols … it all makes a lot of sense,” Biden said. “But, you know, it’s dangerous. You just have to admit it.”
Read more: NFL player’s on-field snaps hit close to home for football community, Winnipeg defender says
On Tuesday, Hamlin’s family released a statement to express their “sincere gratitude” for Hamlin’s outpouring of support.
Message directly from Damar’s family: pic.twitter.com/MdzgxUmVfg
— Jordan Rooney (@jordonr) January 3, 2023
“We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words and donations from fans across the country,” the statement read.
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Since his collapse, a GoFundMe page Hamlin previously set up for his Chasing M’s Foundation had reached more than $7 million in donations as of Thursday morning. The GoFundMe page was created by Hamlin with an initial goal of $2,500 to support his mother’s daycare program in Pittsburgh.
5:39 NFL VP says Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was ‘biggest fear’, says emergency plan ‘executed to perfection’
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