01 August 2023 , 15:30
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In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, NFL safety Damar Hamlin recently returned to the field for his first practice session with pads since suffering a cardiac arrest during a game earlier this year.
Hamlin, who plays for the Buffalo Bills, admitted that he felt a "scared" as he stepped back onto the field, but his faith and strength helped him overcome his fears. The incident occurred during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January, where Hamlin collapsed and came close to losing his life.
Thanks to the swift actions of the medical teams present, his life was saved. After being cleared to return, Hamlin expressed a mix of emotions as he prepared to practice again.
He said (via the Express US): "It feels amazing. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I was kinda all over the place, just kinda being back for the first time. In football, you can’t hit that field with no hesitation, you’re putting yourself in more danger by doing that.
“I made the choice to play, but I’m processing a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say that it crosses my mind of being a little scared here and there. But like I say, my strength is rooted in my faith, and my faith is stronger than any fear.
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“That’s what I want to preach up here, and that’s the message I want to spread on to the world. As long as your faith is stronger than your fear, you can get through anything. So that’s what I’m living by right now.”
Hamlin's return to practice drew attention from both teammates and fans. Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that Hamlin was "full go" for the team's training camp and praised his remarkable recovery.
The game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was called off after Hamlin's cardiac arrest (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Hamlin also recognised the importance of spreading awareness about CPR and having defibrillators available at all sports events. The 25-year-old added: “I’m just thankful, I’m just blessed to be able to do what I wanted to do as a kid.
"Super big hurdle as you can imagine. Pretty much lost my life playing this sport, so to come back and do it all over again, [the emotions are] all over the place. I'm rooted in my faith and I'm rooted in the love that I receive from my family, my team-mates and the love all over the world - it keeps me going.
"I got goals that I still want to achieve within this game. Football teaches you so much about yourself. It teaches you so much about life. You learn so much about yourself through the game. What bigger challenge? It's a challenge, so I'm embracing it."
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