Doctors have revealed Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin could have suffered an incredibly rare injury.
The NFL player collapsed with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The safety tackled receiver Tee Higgins with what appeared to be a routine tackle, however dropped to the ground shortly after.
Medical staff rushed onto the field and performed CPR before taking him to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
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Several doctors have since speculated that the star’s heart pumping mechanism was thrown out of rhythm when he received the blow to the chest, in turn disrupting the blow of blood around his body – including to his brain.
They believe this may have happened during a vulnerable point of the heart’s electrical cycle, which triggered a condition known as commotio cordis.
The condition is extremely rare, with a 2022 study saying there are fewer than 30 cases reported each year – with 7.9 billion people in the world, that’s the equivalent of one in every 264 million.
Hamlin's family has since revealed the star NFL player is now 'trending upwards in a positive way'.
The 24-year-old's uncle, Dorrian Glenn, says the first responders did an amazing work to keep him alive.
"His heart had went out so they had to resuscitate him twice," he revealed to CNN.
"They resuscitated him on the field before they brought him to the hospital and then they resuscitated him a second time when they got him to the hospital.
"They sedated him just to give a better chance for him to just continue to heal better. We are just taking it day by day. It seems like he's trending upwards in a positive way."
While he remains in a critical condition in hospital, Hamlin's family believes he's now on the mend.
"Right now they’ve got him on a ventilator," Dorrian explained to CNN.
"They are trying to get him to breathe on his own. He is still in ICU and sedated while they continue to administer medical treatment.
"I am thankful for the staff that have been working with him."
Glenn told NFL.com the whole situation has been heartbreaking for everyone.
"It was truly scary seeing what we saw yesterday. It was a gut punch to see that," Glenn said.
"But I am thankful he is still here and still fighting.'
"It has been heartbreaking. I’ve been up for 24 hours. It is good to support my nephew and be by his side. It’s tremendous to see the love and support there is for him. It’s truly amazing.
"It’s still very much day by day. Once he gets out of the ICU I will feel better. My nephew is humble.
"He is going to be floored by the love. He is a genuine, positive guy from the toy drive to his coaching clinic."
Topics: NFL
Stewart Perrie