Damar Hamlin, a notable player on the American professional football team, the Buffalo Bills, suffered a great fatality on January 2, 2023. Hamlin was treated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, which he left just a week after his cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the survival rate for those who suffer outside hospitals is 11.2%. 

Hamlin received immediate care which raised his chance of survival to 41%. According to Dr. Benjamin Levine, a professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the immediate CPR practiced on the player by the medical personnel at the Paycor Stadium is accredited to be what saved him. By January 4, Hamlin’s doctors noticed an improvement in his health condition, and he began communicating through physical movements. 

Though the root of his injury is unknown, it is speculated to be from Commotio cordis. This condition occurs when an individual suffers a blow to the chest at precisely the 20-millisecond interval when the heart can stop. Fortunately, Hamlin has survived and his family and fans are grateful to see him recovered. Hamlin’s experience has affected the NFL community immensely, but his recovery has certainly eased their concerns. 

The swiftness of the doctors and medics around him ensured his recovery and saved his life. Hamlin’s future in the NFL is uncertain; however, many football fans are hoping for his return.