(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was listed in critical condition late Monday night after he collapsed on the field during the NFL’s nationally televised tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin sustained a hard hit while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, after which Hamlin got to his feet, appeared to adjust his helmet and then collapsed backward and lay motionless.
“Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics,” the NFL said in a statement. “He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.”
The NFL Players Association issued a statement of support for Hamlin.
NFLPA statement: “The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin. We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well being.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2023
The cause of Hamlin’s sudden collapse was unknown, but it followed a disturbing pattern of young athletes dying suddenly, which some have linked to possible ties to COVID vaccines.
That area of speculation, tied to Hamlin’s episode, was shot down by some medical experts but not ruled out entirely by others, according to The Liberty Daily.
As a physician I believe Damar Hamlin was likely suffering from commotio cordis where a blow to the chest at a precise moment in the electrical cycle stops the heart. Those trying to tie this to vaccine status to project their unscientific beliefs are terrible, horrible people. pic.twitter.com/H5KNnHPZMK
— Chris Haddock (@drdawg1996) January 3, 2023
While initially seeming to agree with the commotio cordis theory, world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough didn’t wholly dismiss a vaccine link.
“The time delay from the hit until he collapsed is expected in commotio cordis. Peter believes that the ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation could have been set up by the vaccine if he took it,” Steve Kirsch wrote about his Monday night correspondence with McCullough.
That was later updated with a more details relayed by McCullough.
“I have communicated to one of the most experienced trainers in the world and we agree that it was a cardiac arrest in the setting of a big surge of adrenalin,” McCullough wrote to Kirsch. “If Damar Hamlin indeed took one of the COVID-19 vaccines, then subclinical vaccine-induced myocarditis must be considered in the differential diagnosis.
“We have been told he was successfully defibrillated on the field and has been intubated and is not spontaneously breathing which is consistent with anoxic encephalopathy. The nation prays for his complete recovery.”
