Have You Seen This? Damar Hamlin presents award to training staff that saved his life

EMOTIONAL ESPYS — It was a moment that had people reaching for their tissues.

An emotional Damar Hamlin presented the Pat Tillman Award for Service Wednesday at the 2023 ESPYs to the Buffalo Bills' training staff — the people who helped save Hamlin's life during a game in January.

On Jan. 2, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a game in Cincinnati. Medical personnel was quickly on scene, and their fast action is credited for Hamlin being alive today.

The Bills safety wiped away tears as he took the stage on Wednesday, and most in attendance followed suit. The crowd at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles gave Hamlin a standing ovation as he was brought to tears and then shared a long embrace with the members of the staff.

Nathan Breske, the Bills' head athletic trainer said it was the "best outcome we could've prayed for or imagined." He went on to thank the "massive army of specialists who came together on and off the field to do their jobs that night."

That army included the medical staff from the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, equipment managers, on-field first responders, paramedics, and the entire medical staff at the University of Cincinnati medical center, and a host of others.

Breske then thanked Hamlin for "staying alive."

Hamlin was sedated and put on a ventilator for days after the incident. In April, he was cleared to resume football activities.

"We are so honored to be standing next to such a strong, courageous human being," Breske said, who then issued a call for those around youth football to learn CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator.

"Do it this summer before football season. You don't have to be perfect. We always say doing something is better than doing nothing," he said.

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