Hollywood, Calif. (WGR 550) - For their heroic actions to save the life of Damar Hamlin during the first quarter of a "Monday Night Football" matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 of the 2022 season at Paycor Stadium, members of the Buffalo Bills' training staff were honored on Wednesday during the 2023 ESPY Awards with the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
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It was the quick actions of assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington to administer life-saving CPR on Hamlin on the field that evening after the Bills safety had gone into cardiac arrest. This after Hamlin made, what appeared to be, a routine tackle of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Hamlin's cardiac arrest was attributed to Commotio Cordis, which is the sudden arrhythmic death caused by a low/mild chest wall impact, or blunt trauma to the heart.
After having his heartbeat restored with the use of an AED machine, Hamlin would spend the next week at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center before being allowed to return to Buffalo and be in the care of doctors in Western New York.
It was back in April when Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed that Hamlin was cleared for full football activities, signaling his impending potential return to the Bills this upcoming season.
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At the 2023 ESPY Awards on Wednesday in Hollywood, the Bills training staff earned recognition with the Pat Tillman Award for Service, given annually to a group with a strong connection to serve others like. This like former NFL safety and U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman, who gave his life fighting the war in Afghanistan.
During Wednesday night's ceremony, Hamlin was in attendance and had the opportunity to present the ESPY for the Pat Tillman Award to those who saved his life back on Jan. 2. Hamlin was overcome with emotion on stage, as he received a standing ovation from those in attendance.
After introducing the staff to the stage, Hamlin was mobbed and hugged by the entire training staff, including Kellington.
"I'm humbled and honored to be speaking tonight, representing the Buffalo Bills' athletic training and medical staff," said Nate Breske, head athletic trainer for the Bills. "By the grace of God and divine intervention, we had the best outcome we could have prayed for or imagined. It was a massive army of specialists who came together on and off the field to do their jobs that night."
Breske continued by also recognizing the training medical staff of the Bengals, others on and off the field who assisted in saving Hamlin's life that night in Cincinnati, as well as the entire staff at the UC Medical Center. Breske also recognized ownership and leadership from both the Bills and Bengals for helping navigate through the challenged that followed that night.
"Damar, first-and-foremost, thank you for staying alive brother," Breske said with a laugh. "We are so honored to be standing up here next to such a strong and courageous human being. Thank you."
To close his comments, Breske also took time to raise further awareness of cardiac events and the importance of knowing life-saving CPR.
"Please support funding for AED and CPR training, especially in underserved communities, as well as a need for athletic trainers in youth sports," Breske said. "If there is one thing we hope you take away from this tonight, learn CPR and how to use an AED, because they save lives. Set a goal for yourself. Do it this summer before football season. You don't have to be perfect. We always say, doing something is better than doing nothing."
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