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Damar Hamlin stuns when asked what caused cardiac arrest: ‘I think we all know what that means’

February 15, 2023 | | Print Article

Damar Hamlin gave his first interview since his collapse on the field during a game with the Cincinnati Bengals in January, stunningly asserting that he wanted to “stay away from” commenting on doctors specifically saying why he had a cardiac arrest.

Hamlin, 24, collapsed on the field on January 2 while playing against the Cincinnati Bengals and received more than 30 minutes of medical attention before being resuscitated and rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC). It was later characterized as a cardiac arrest.

The Buffalo Bills safety spoke with “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan, a former NFL player, during a pre-Super Bowl interview about his ordeal. He discussed the sudden cardiac arrest that almost took his life and how healthcare professionals saved him after it occurred.

“That just kinda put things in perspective for me, you know, hearing it from the doctor,” Hamlin stated. “Things could have went differently and the details of the situation of everything that happened on the field – it could have been – it could have been the last of me.”

But what caught everyone’s attention were his words concerning the reason for the cardiac arrest in a young, healthy, fit athlete. It raised more than a few eyebrows and the clip went viral over it.

“You’re 24, peak physical condition, could run circles around me right now. How did doctors describe what happened to you?” Strahan asked.

Hamlin paused a lengthy 12 seconds before answering and then dropped a bombshell, “That’s something I want to stay away from.”

Strahan did not press him on the answer. He did ask if there were any signs that something was wrong leading up to the health scare.

“Honestly, no,” Hamlin responded. “I’ve always been a healthy, young, fit, energetic human being, so it was something that we’re still processing and I’m still talking through with my doctors to see what everything was.”

“[I was feeling] super normal, I was feeling great,” he said. “I’m thinking, finish the regular season strong, try and get ready for that playoff push.”

Strahan also asked Hamlin if he remembered just before he collapsed following a hit on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, including standing up before immediately falling down again.

“That’s something I don’t want to get too deep into the detail of,” Hamlin replied after another long pause. “It’s something I’m still trying to work through. You know, ‘Why’d it happen to me?'”

“I’m just thankful [God] gave me a second chance just to live normally and just come out almost without a scratch on me,” Hamlin commented. “Just to be able to keep going.”

He said his doctors are still in the process of diagnosing what went wrong with him on the field but both Hamlin and his health providers are confident he will return to football.

Both of his evasive answers over the reason for his cardiac arrest quickly caused a stir on social media over the possibility that it had something to do with the COVID-19 vaccine. People have so many questions:

https://twitter.com/RealBrysonGray/status/1625645531736297474

 

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