(Detroit CBS) – Damar Hamlin, a player with the Bills, went into cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football and passed out on the field. After receiving CPR on the spot, Hamlin was taken to a local hospital in a hurry. Right now, his condition is listed as critical.
Longtime sports writer Jack Berry stated, “It’s very sad and listening to the guys in the broadcast and Joe Buck and the others… saying this has never happened before and yes it has a whole long time ago.”
Announcers Troy Aikman and Joe Buck said they had never seen something like this shortly after the tragedy. But veteran Detroit sportswriter Jack Berry recalls a similar on-field tragedy in which Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes passed away on the fieldBerry stated that although these occurrences are uncommon, it has happened before—it has simply been a very long time.
He claimed that while he saw Hamlin receive medical attention on the field, he couldn’t help but be reminded of Hughes’ unexpected demise on October 24, 1971. Berry claimed to have been a reporter there at the game.
“Immediately, I thought back in the days, Tiger Stadium looking down from the press box practically in the third deck and seeing him lying on the field and guys gathering around him,” Berry recalled.
Players and coaches made the decision to end the Bengals vs. Bills game after Hamlin was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Nevertheless, even after Hughes was removed off the field following his death on the field, the Lions’ game versus the Bears went on.
“I think the players are more understanding now and understand each other and have more power than in the past,” Berry stated.Berry claimed that the Hughes tale did not receive the same attention and that many people had either forgotten about it or were unaware of it.
He hopes Hamlin heals quickly in the meanwhile.
“It’s very, very sad and I just hope that he recovers,” Berry stated.
