Damar Hamlin's Cardiac Arrest Could Have Been Fatal

On Monday night, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. While this could have been a fatal event, it was luckily averted due to the quick thinking and skill of Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington. Kellington was able to administer CPR in time to save Hamlin’s life. His speed and skill were “absolutely vital” according to Albert Breer, an NFL reporter. Despite Kellington’s heroic efforts, the situation could have easily ended differently had he not been present at the time of the incident. This is not the first instance of a player going into cardiac arrest during a game or practice. In 2019, former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez suffered from cardiac arrest while playing in a game against the Oakland Raiders. Thankfully, Gonzalez was able to make a full recovery after receiving medical attention on site. The fact that these incidents are occurring more frequently is concerning for players and teams alike as they can be difficult to predict and often result in serious injury or death if not treated quickly enough. It is unclear what caused Hamlin’s cardiac arrest but it serves as an important reminder that medical staff should always be present during games and practices in order to provide assistance when needed. While Kellington was able to save Hamlin’s life this time around, it is impossible to know what will happen in similar situations moving forward. The risk of players suffering from cardiac arrest remains high and teams must remain vigilant about having proper medical staff on hand at all times in order to prevent further tragedy from occurring on the field or court.