CNN
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Buffalo Bills offensive sort out Dion Dawkins has recalled the moment he realized one thing was “really, really wrong” after teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the sector in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin remains in hospital and in a crucial situation after struggling a cardiac arrest in Monday’s recreation. His uncle, Dorrian Glenn, advised CNN that Hamlin is nonetheless sedated having been resuscitated twice – on the sector after which on the hospital.
The recreation was subsequently postponed with gamers from each groups visibly distraught.
“You look around and you see the medical staff doing their job, and you know when it’s something minor like somebody is down, but they’re sitting up, the guys are moving at a nice pace,” Dawkins told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday.
“But when issues like this are occurring, they’re waving really quick and calling guys on the sector and calling for the elite medical employees – that’s if you really notice that one thing is really, really fallacious.
“This was one of the first experiences for myself where something like this has happened in this type of way, where it silenced an entire stadium that was at an uproar half a play earlier.”
Live updates: NFL star Damar Hamlin in critical condition after cardiac arrest
According to Glenn, Hamlin is on a ventilator to alleviate a few of the pressure on his lungs, which have been broken following the cardiac arrest. He stated his nephew’s situation is “trending upwards in a positive way” whereas receiving remedy in hospital.
For Dawkins, who is in his sixth season with the Bills, the gravity of the state of affairs instantly made him flip to prayer.
“Whether you’re a believer or not, only a higher power can really take control of what is next,” he stated.
“Our people that helped also assisted that higher power. But in that moment you kind of just have to be vulnerable and let prayer go up and work its magic.”
On Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated the sport between the Bills and the Bengals won’t be resumed this week, including that no choice has been made on when it is perhaps performed.
“I’m truly blessed that we didn’t have to keep playing,” stated Dawkins.
“The fact that we did not have to go back out there on that field and play just shows that there is care, and that’s all we can ever ask for is that we get treated as people,” he added.
“Most individuals simply deal with us as athletes, as superstars, and a few individuals like celebrities, however in that moment they [the NFL] handled us like individuals. And being handled as an individual that is cared for, it’s a stupendous feeling.
“I’m thankful that I was treated as a person and so were the rest of my teammates because at the end of the day, we are people. And we have feelings, we have emotions, we cry, we hurt. And we have families, and they hurt, and they cry.”
