NFL star Damar Hamlin is showing promising signs after the terrifying incident that saw him go into cardiac arrest during a game earlier this week.
The Buffalo Bills player collapsed after a tackle involving Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
The player got up off the ground before dramatically crashing down as CPR was administered on the field before he was stretchered off and taken to hospital.
The Bills safety marketing representative Jordon Rooney told ESPN’s Coley Harvey that doctors were now seeing encouraging signs toward a recovery.
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Harvey tweeted: “Per Jordon and Damar’s family, doctors overnight got promising readings that they had been hoping to see by this morning. Jordon couldn’t go into specifics, but progress appears to be made.”
Hamlin still remains sedated and in critical condition at the ICU at University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Harvey also reiterated that while progress is being made, Hamlin still has a long way to go to make a full recovery.
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He added: “Want to be sure I reiterate that although a small, hopeful step appears to have been made, Jordon did mention that Damar still has a long way to go in his recovery.
“But the family’s optimism remains high and steady as it’s been throughout all of this.”
The Buffalo NFL side also confirmed that Hamlin had been showing improvement with an update earlier this morning.
They tweeted: “Damar remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight.
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“He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.”
The NFL community have rallied behind Hamlin in the wake of the tragedy, with over $6 million raised to help with the 24-year-old’s recovery.
Hamlin’s uncle Dorrian Glenn revealed that his nephew would be taken aback by the support upon his recovery.
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Glenn told the NFL Network: “My nephew’s so humble. He’s going to truly be floored. He’s going to be floored, he’s going to be in disbelief, but I mean, he’s shown so much love, he’s shown so much care and compassion, so, it should reciprocate back to him cause he’s a genuine guy, a positive guy.
“He comes from a distressed neighbourhood like we come from, you can choose to be a negative impact or you could be a positive impact, and my nephew’s a positive impact all the time from his toy drive to his coaching clinics to his giveaways.
“He’s always coming through and trying to be a positive impact for the kids and that type of influence that you can have, I hope he creates ten more Damar Hamlins that can come out and be inspirational to the generations behind them.”
Hamlin’s family released a statement thanking NFL fans, first responders and medical personnel for their support.
Jayden Collins