‘From the Heart’: NFL player Damar Hamlin offers first on-camera remarks since cardiac arrest

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin made his first-ever video remarks since his on-field collapse earlier this month in an Instagram video published Saturday evening.

Captioned as a “From The Heart” message, the video was reportedly shot from the Buffalo Bills’ facility in Orchard Park, New York.

Watch:

 

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He began his message by explaining why he’d waited so long to speak out.

“I think it’s finally a good time to share a few things. I think it was important for me to wait and speak publicly at the right time, as it was just a lot to process within my own self mentally, physically, even spiritually,” he said.

Fair enough.

Hamlin continued by thanking everyone for all the support he’s received.

“I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of all the love, all the support and everything that’s just been coming in my way. What happened to me on ‘Monday Night Football’ I feel is a direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and my love directly from my heart with the entire world,” he said.

“And I’m able to give it back to kids and communities all across the world who need it the most, and that’s always been my dream. That’s always been what I stood for and what I will continue to stand for,” Hamlin added.

The public was greatly appreciative of his kind words:

Speaking of the public, he also thanked them for donating $9 million to his Chasing M foundation’s toy drive in the wake of his collapse.

“That was something that was started even way before I made it to the NFL, something that was started small just to be able to affect my small community back at home, McKees Rocks [Pennsylvania],” he said.

“I just wanted to be able to play my role and do my part in my community as I ventured off and to chase my dreams of making the NFL, and you guys have just took that and blown it away, and I’m so excited for the things that I have planned in the future for these kids all across the country now,” he added.

As previously reported, Hamlin collapsed on the field after tackling another player during a Jan. 2nd game against the Cincinnati Bengals

It was later learned that he’d suffered from cardiac arrest. It took a few weeks, but Hamlin finally reappeared in the public spotlight again last weekend during another game against the Bengals, albeit just as a spectator.

Watch:

Speaking of which, Hamlin thanked both the Bills and Bengals in his Instagram video.

“To the entire Bills organization, my brothers who made it a priority to lift me up spiritually, mentally, and in every way possible, reaching out every day, seeing how I was doing, calling, texting, you know, just checking up on me no matter the situation, I’m proud to be a part of this team. I’m proud to be able to to call you guys my brothers,” he said.

“To the city of Cincinnati, the Bengals, and the entire NFL, just for putting team allegiance aside to root for one kid’s life, and just the humanity of a player, you know, that’s wearing Buffalo blue, you put humanity above team loyalty, you showed the world unity over division. I’m not surprised by it, but I’m deeply grateful, and I’ll be forever thankful and indebted,” he added.

And of course he thanks his friends and family.

All was good about the video except for one thing. The conspiracy theorists. Ever since his reappearance last week, some conspiracy theorists have been claiming that he’s dead and that the person seen at the game had been a body double.

Unfortunately, this theory is still running hot:

There’s also a theory that Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was caused by the COVID vaccine. While no evidence has emerged to substantiate this theory, some of Hamlin’s fans would like him to address it as well.

Vivek Saxena

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