ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ( Associated Press) – Damar Hamlin released a video Saturday to thank for the support and vowed to give in return.
It was the first time a Buffalo Bills safety spoke publicly since he went into cardiac arrest and required CPR midway through a game against Cincinnati on January 2.
Hamlin said he is making “great progress” in his recovery. He claimed that the “right time” to speak had come once the Bills’ season ended.
The player recognized that he could not speak at first, as he wanted to organize his thoughts.
“It was a lot for myself to process mentally, physically and even spiritually,” he said. “But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the love, support and everything I’ve seen along the way.”
Hamlin said he feels calmer now when he thinks about what happened on the field. He fell after performing what appeared to be a routine takedown on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, who hit him in the chest as part of the play.
“I think what happened to me at Monday night’s game is a direct example of God using me as a means to share my passion and my love, straight from my heart, with the whole world. ” They said.
“And now I’m able to give more to children and communities in need around the world. And that’s always been my dream,” he said. “It’s always been what I’ve stood for and what I will stand for.”
Hamlin didn’t have any problems speaking during the 5-minute video, titled “Thank You: A Message from Damar Hamlin” and posted via his Instagram account.
The video begins with Hamlin entering the frame. He dons a jacket and takes a seat in what looks like Bill’s boardroom.
There is a dim light and the word “Bill” is visible behind it.
The player wears a white T-shirt with the name of his charitable foundation, Chasing Millions. He wears a gold chain with the initials “DM” on it.
Biles did not immediately respond to a message asking when and where the video was taken.
On January 20, Hamlin’s representative for marketing affairs, Jordan Rooney, stated that the 24-year-old faced a long road to recovery. At that time, he still required oxygen and his heart was being regularly monitored to rule out any other problems.
Hamlin has been recuperating at home since January 11, when he was released from the hospital to continue his rehabilitation with Bill. He then began making regular visits to the team’s facilities and was healthy enough to participate in Buffalo’s final game of the season, a 27–10 loss to the Bengals themselves the previous weekend in a divisional round game of the playoffs. Had to face
