‘Love you boys,’ Buffalo Bills’ Hamlin tells teammates after breathing tube removed

The NFL safety “continues to progress remarkably in his recovery,” the team says

January 05, 2023 12:11 PM

Balloons and a Buffalo Bills flag sit on a fence Thursday outside UC Medical Center, where Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains hospitalized.

UPDATE: (10:50 a.m. CT Jan. 6)

By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1/EMS1

CINCINNATI — Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin’s breathing tube was removed overnight, the team said Friday morning, four days after medical personnel responded to the 24-year-old’s in-game cardiac arrest in front of fans and fellow players.

Hamlin spoke to his teammates via FaceTime from a Cincinnati hospital, CNN reported.

“Love you boys,” Hamlin told his New York-based team Friday, the Bills said on Twitter.

When Hamlin appeared on screen, his teammates “stood up right away and clapped for him” and yelled to him, Head Coach Sean McDermott told reporters.

Hamlin “continues to progress remarkably in his recovery,” his “neurologic function remains intact and he has been able to talk to his family and care team,” the team said in a tweet Friday morning, citing his doctors.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1611383102013857792

A person leaves flowers for the display set-up for Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin outside of University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Cincinnati.

EARLIER:

By Rachel Engel
EMS1/FireRescue1

CINCINNATI — In the past 24 hours, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown “remarkable improvement” after going into cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field during Monday night’s game, the team said in a statement.

Hamlin’s doctors also relayed to the team that Hamlin appears to be “neurologically intact,” and his agent, Ronald Butler, told the Associated Press that the Bills safety was awake and gripping the hands of family members at his bedside, ESPN reported.

“Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the Buffalo Bills said. “While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress. We are grateful for the love and support we have received.”