‘This isn’t about a football player, this is about a person’: Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark puts Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest into perspective as Bill’s star fights for his life
Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark has said Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest “is not about a football player,” it’s about “a person” as the 24-year-old fights for his life.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers safety, who suffered a medical emergency of his own in 2007, was at the ESPN SportsCenter when Hamlin collapsed during the Buffalo Bills’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital, where he remains in critical condition hours after he attacked a rival Bengals receiver. There were many good wishes for the young player.
Ryan Clark said Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest is “not about a football player” it’s about “a human being”.
In a chilling scene, Hamlin, 24, was administered CPR on the field while surrounded by teammates, some of whom broke down in tears as they shielded him from the public.
“This is about Damar Hamlin,” Clark began Monday night.
“It’s about a young man, aged 24, living his dream, who a few hours ago was preparing to play the biggest game of his NFL career, and there was probably no other place in the world where he wanted to be and now he’s fighting for his life.
In a chilling scene, Hamlin was revived on the field while surrounded by teammates
“When Damar Hamlin falls on the pitch, you see the medical staff rushing onto the field and both teams are on the field, you realize it’s not normal, it’s not just football.
“In this game and in our job, we use the clichés so often: ‘I’m willing to die for this’, ‘I’m willing to give my life for this’, ‘It’s time to go to war'”.
“I think sometimes we use these things so much that we forget that part of living that dream is putting your life on the line. Tonight we saw a side of football that is extremely ugly, a side of football that no one ever wants to see or never admit exists.
“When you see both teams crying on the field, your first thought is Damar Hamlin, the second thought is his family. This isn’t about a soccer player, this is about a human being, a brother, a son, a friend, someone loved by so many you have to watch yourself go through it.
“I’ve dealt with this before and for days I’ve watched my teammates come to my hospital bed and cry. I had them call me and tell me they didn’t think I was going to make it and now this team has to deal with it and they don’t have the answers.
Clark was hospitalized 16 years ago during a game with the Steelers against the Denver Broncos. He suffered a splenic infarction related to sickle cell disease, which he was diagnosed as a child.
Some of his Buffalo Bills teammates cried as they shielded him from the public
Clark concluded on ESPN, “The next time I think we’re upset about our favorite fantasy player or the guy on our team who’s not making the game, or we say he’s worthless, and we say that you can do anything For that money we should remember that they are risking their lives to live their dream and tonight Damar Hamlin’s dream turned into a nightmare not only for himself but for his as well family and his entire team.’
Hamlin was surrounded by players from both sides and treated for 16 minutes before being immobilized and taken off the field.
Players from both teams were visibly stunned by what had happened and many cried on the field. The game was postponed by the NFL.
Teammate Stefon Diggs later joined Hamlin in the hospital. About 100 Bills fans and a few Bengals fans gathered on a corner a block from the ER entrance, some holding candles.
As medical personnel gathered around Hamlin, his playing uniform was cut off.
Tee Higgins, the man Hamlin tackled, tweeted: “My prayers and thoughts go out to @HamlinIsland (and) the Hamlin family. I pray you make it through, brother. Love.’