WASHINGTON (AFP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin had a video-call message of love for his teammates on Friday after his breathing tube was removed overnight.
The 24-year-old suffered cardiac arrest in the Bills’ Monday night National Football League game against the Bengals in Cincinnati, where he was resuscitated on the field and hospitalized in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said much of Hamlin’s communication with his teammates on Friday remained through hand signals and gestures — his trademark “heart” sign and a biceps curl flex to indicate strength that drew a chuckle from the coach.
“It was a little hard to hear, he said ‘I love you boys,’” McDermott added.
“Of course that got the guys.”
Hamlin collapsed after taking a hard hit to the chest while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins during the first quarter of the nationally televised game.
The frightening scenes saw medical staff restore Hamlin’s heartbeat on the field using cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillators.
Players and personnel from both teams were left stunned, with some crying and praying as doctors treated him.
The game was called off, and the NFL announced on Thursday that it would not be resumed or replayed, leaving both teams with one less game played this season than the other 30 clubs in the league.
The playoff-bound Bills, who still have a chance to capture the AFC’s top seed for a first-round bye and home field advantage, will host the New England Patriots on Sunday in their final regular-season game.
McDermott said Hamlin’s continuing progress had buoyed a team shaken by Monday’s events.
