Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin recently marked the one-year anniversary of his on-field cardiac arrest with a meaningful tattoo. The artwork, showcased on celebrity tattoo artist Alexander Brenes’ Instagram, features hands forming a heart shape with an electrocardiogram in the center, symbolizing the incident. Brenes captioned the post with “1 year later still locked inn.”
The cardiac arrest occurred during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023, at 8:56 p.m. ET. Prompt on-field intervention by first responders restored Hamlin’s heartbeat before he was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. After a week in the hospital, Hamlin made a full recovery. Subsequently, he received recognition, winning the George Halas Award and the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY Awards for overcoming adversity.
In the current NFL season, Hamlin has participated in five games, registering two tackles. Reflecting on his return to football nine months after the incident, Hamlin expressed the significance of the moment, emphasizing self-assurance, courage, strength, and pride. He described the experience as a testament to his ability to endure trauma and return to playing the sport he loves at the highest level.
Teammate Josh Allen, the Bills’ quarterback, praised Hamlin’s comeback on the Let’s Go! podcast in October. Allen acknowledged Hamlin’s inspirational impact, not only on the team but also on a broader scale, as Hamlin contributed to raising awareness about CPR and donated defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and youth teams nationwide. Allen highlighted the positive movement born out of a tragic moment, emphasizing its potential to save lives and lauding Hamlin’s powerful transformation of adversity into a force for good.
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