Damar Hamlin Gives First Interview Since Recovering From Cardiac Arrest: I’m Still Trying To Process The Emotions & Trauma That Comes From A Situation Like That

Damar Hamlin Gives First Interview Since Recovering From Cardiac Arrest: I’m Still Trying To Process The Emotions & Trauma That Comes From A Situation Like That

Damar Hamlin has not yet processed his terrifying collapse.

The Buffalo Bills safety spoke out for the first time since he collapsed in a game that took place against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. As you may recall, CPR and automated external defibrillation (AED) were quickly administered after he collapsed. He was then rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. During his hospitalization, the Buffalo Bills released a statement announcing that Damar Hamlin had suffered from cardiac arrest.

During a recent sit-down with Michael Strahan, Damar Hamlin admitted that it’s difficult for him to rewatch footage from the scary incident. The 24-year-old said:

“Just a crazy feeling. Something I can’t describe yet, something I’m still processing and something I’m trying to work through, you know, why that happened to me.” 

Damar Hamlin

He then offered an update on how he’s doing physically amid his recovery and said: 

“I’m doing great, you know? Every morning, every night I take 10 deep breaths to myself. It puts everything in perspective for me. I’m doing great.”

The Pennsylvania native also shared how things have been for him emotionally speaking. 

“I’m still working through things. I’m still trying to process all the emotions and the trauma that comes from dealing with a situation like that and not really having people around or no one in my immediate circle whose dealt with something like that.”

After Michael Strahan asked the football player if he planned on returning to the field, he answered: 

“Eventually, you know? That’s always the goal. I’m allowing that to be in God’s hands.”

However, he then noted why his doctors can’t necessarily give him a thumbs up to play right now:

“It’s a tough situation. They can’t really tell because it’s an up to me thing, I guess. It’s a long road, they’re just worried about trying to get me back to normal as much as they can.”

Since Hamlin’s health scare on the football field, the public’s interest in learning CPR has reportedly increased. The NFL and the American Heart Association provided free CPR education in Arizona throughout Super Bowl week as part of the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center. Hamlin shared:

“Right now I’m teaming up with the American Heart Association. We’re trying to get three million people to apply and to learn CPR and that’s something that I feel is important because it really did save my life that night.”

Hamlin then recalled his first moments waking up in the hospital surrounded by his family and friends. He said:

“The first thing I said when I woke up was, ‘did we win?’”

Damar Hamlin

In addition to this love for the game, Damar Hamlin also addressed how serious his health scare really was.

“That just kind of put things in perspective for me, you know, hearing from the doctor, things could have went differently and the details of the situation of everything that happened on the field, that could have been the last of me.”

The NFL requires athletes to undergo physicals but Hamlin had never been flagged for a heart condition. He said:

“I’ve always been a healthy, young, fit, energetic human being, let alone athlete. It was something that we’re still processing and I’m still talking through with my doctors just to see what everything was.”

During his interview, Damar Hamlin made it very clear that he’s grateful to be alive. He also gave a special thanks to the franchise’s medical staffer Denny Kellington for successfully resuscitating him by performing CPR for over a reported 8 minutes before Hamlin was rushed to a Cincinnati hospital. Hamlin said:

“I owe Denny my life literally. He loved to say he was just doing his job, which is true, but that night he was the savior of my life administrating CPR on me, and that’s something I’m thankful for and don’t take for granted.”

What are your thoughts on Damar Hamlin’s first interview since his health scare? Tell us below.

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