‘I’m so thankful to everybody;’ Damar Hamlin speaks publicly since suffering cardiac arrest

BUFFALO, NY — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin spoke publicly for the first time Saturday since he went into cardiac arrest and needed to resuscitated on the field of Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on January 2, in a video released on social media.

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He spoke during a 5 1/2 minute video titled: “Thank You: A message from Damar Hamlin” posted on his Instagram account.

He said he has come to peace with what happened on the field when he collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who struck Hamlin squarely in the chest.

“What happened to me on ‘Monday Night Football,’ I feel is a direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and my love directly from my heart with the entire world,” he said.

“And now I’m able to give to kids and communities all across the world who need it the most. And that’s always been my dream,” he added. “That’s always been what I stood for and what I will continue to stand for.”

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Hamlin spent much of the video providing thanks while listing his family, teammates, training staff, and the medical staff at both the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Buffalo General Medical Center, where he split his recovery, the Associated Press reported.

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He thanked the Bengals and players from around the league for their support by “putting team allegiance aside.”

“You put humanity above team loyalty. You showed the world unity over division,” Hamlin said. “I’m not surprised by it, but I’m deeply grateful and I will be forever thankful and indebted to that.”

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Damar Hamlin is doing well, but still faces lengthy recovery, friend says

The Bills did not immediately respond to a message about when or where the video was filmed, according to the Associated Press.

On Jan. 20, Hamlin’s marketing representative Jordon Rooney said the 24-year-old player faces a long recovery while at the time still requiring oxygen and having his heart monitored regularly to ensure there are no setbacks.

Hamlin has been recovering at home since being released from the hospital on Jan. 11 to continue his rehabilitation with the Bills. He then began making regular visits to the team’s facility and was healthy enough to attend the Bills’ season-ending 27-10 loss to the Bengals in a divisional playoff game last weekend.

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He also thanked those who donated more than $9 million to his charity over the past four weeks.

“While I’m so thankful to everybody, I know that it isn’t enough just to be thankful. This is just the beginning of the impact that I wanted to have on the world,” Hamlin said in closing the video by making a heart sign with his hands.

“I couldn’t do this without any of this support and the love,” he continued. “And I can’t wait to continue to take y’all on this journey with me.”

Hamlin ended his video by making a heart with his hands.

>>UC Health providers receive key to city for Damar Hamlin medical response

University of Cincinnati Health providers were awarded a key to the city of Cincinnati Thursday for providing medical care to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin earlier this month.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital also received $10,000 worth of toys from Fisher-Price and Mattel on Wednesday all in thanks for supporting and caring for Hamlin.