It was the heartwarming moment that likely didn’t leave a dry eye in the house at the ESPYS Wednesday night.
Buffalo Bill safety Damar Hamlin presented the Pat Tillman Award for Service to the team’s training staff, whose efforts on the night of Jan. 2 helped save the football player’s life after he collapsed on the field from cardiac arrest.
Hamlin was brought to tears while presenting the award as the crowd rose to its feet for a standing ovation.
He was finally able to announce the award before going to greet the team’s medical staff and embracing them in a hug that, again, brought Hamlin to tears, as well as the crowd.
“By the grace of God and divine intervention, we had the best outcome we could have prayed for or imagined,” Bills head athletic trainer Nate Breske said during the acceptance speech. “It was a massive army of specialists who came together on and off the field to do their jobs at night.”
The safety suffered the scary cardiac event during the Bills’ Week 17 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals after tackling receiver Tee Higgins.
Hamlin collapsed to the ground and medical personnel rushed to render aid, performing CPR on him for nearly 10 minutes.
He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and after progressing well enough, he was released from the hospital on Jan. 9.
“Damar, first and foremost, thank you for staying alive brother,” Breske said during the speech. “Seriously, we are so honored to be standing up here next to such a strong and courageous human being. … We’re not used to having the spotlight on us. Like we were just doing our job. But the idea of service is definitely something that is ingrained in our profession, and that we take great pride in.”
In April, he was cleared to play the 2023 NFL season.
“Really been an emotional journey.. that video & a room full of greatness did it for me.. (heart-shaped hand emoji),” Hamlin tweeted along with the video of the moment.
Hamlin walked the red carpet before the ESPYS and spoke appreciatively of the men and women of the Bills’ training staff.
“It means everything. We shared a special moment together,” Hamlin said, according to US Weekly. “I’ll be bonded with that medical staff for life. They’re like family.”
