By Mark Heim
Buffalo and Cincinnati fans converged on University of Cincinnati Medical Center in support of Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who was in critical condition after he collapsed on the field Monday night.
ESPN reported that Hamlin was administered CPR on the field. He was surrounded by teammates, some of them in tears, after he was hurt while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
“Just because we’re Bengals fans, doesn’t mean we aren’t fans of him,” a fan told Fox 19 reporter Payton Marshall. “Nobody wants to experience something like this, that was horrific. We support you Bills. Cincinnati supports you.”
Higgins led with his right shoulder, which hit Hamlin in the chest. After he dragged Higgins to the ground, Hamlin got to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backward about three seconds later and lay motionless.
Teammate Stefon Diggs, who took an Uber, later joined Hamlin at the hospital. Bengals coach Zac Taylor also made his way to the hospital.
About 100 Bills fans and a few Bengals fans gathered on a corner one block from the emergency room entrance with some of them holding candles.
nutes later, the Bills gathered in prayer. A few minutes after the ambulance left the field, the game was suspended, and players walked off the field slowly and into their locker rooms.
Hamlin’s uniform was cut off and he appeared to be getting CPR from medical personnel. ESPN reported on its telecast that Hamlin was also given oxygen.
