Damar Hamlin, now cleared for NFL return, shares the cause of his on-the-field cardiac arrest
Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who went into sudden cardiac arrest on the field back in January, has been cleared to return to the NFL. In fact, he’s already participating in voluntary offseason workouts with teammates as the 2023-2024 season approaches.
“He is fully cleared,” Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said during a pre-draft press conference. “He’s here. He's in a great headspace to make his return."
Hamlin has taken fans with him on his journey toward recovery, providing updates about his health and even helping support bipartisan legislation designed to improve automated external defibrillator (AED) access and increase CPR training in U.S. schools.
On April 18, for instance, he participated in a press conference to talk about his return with the media.
“This event was life-changing, but it is not the end of my story,” Hamlin said. “I’m here to announce that I plan on making a comeback to the NFL.”
Hamlin shared that the official cause of his sudden cardiac arrest was commotio cordis, a rare condition that can occur immediately after a swift blow to the chest. The American Heart Association (AHA) issued a prepared statement after Hamlin’s press conference sharing more details about commotio cordis—and praising the medical team on the scene that helped save Hamlin’s life.
“The reason he did so well was because he was in a situation where there was a prompt and effective response,” Gordon F. Tomaselli, MD, dean of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, and vice president and chief academic officer of Montefiore Medicine, said in the statement. Tomaselli is also a former AHA president.
What is commotio cordis?
Commotio cordis is a rare condition, with fewer than 400 cases confirmed over the last 40-plus years. It is typically seen in individuals with no history of heart disease. Also, Tomaselli noted in the AHA statement, if a person is treated in time, they can usually make a full recovery.
Tomaselli talked about the exact scenario that is required for commotio cordis to occur. For example, if the blow to the patient’s chest is “too hard” or “too soft,” it will not occur. Also, the blow to the chest must occur at a specific moment during a person’s heartbeat.
“It's a very narrow time window,” he said. “Anywhere between 20 and 40 milliseconds.”
It is difficult to prevent commotio cordis before it happens, which makes it especially important for there to be a quick response. Improved AED access is one way to ensure patients can be treated if commotio cordis occurs. Encouraging more people to learn CPR training is another way.
“Anybody can save a life,” Tomaselli said. “And you can save a life by knowing how to do basic cardiac life support and CPR.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.