Damar Hamlin's life was saved by an AED. Here are 5 things the NFL star has learned since his sudden cardiac arrest.

Photo illustration of Damar Hamlin, who advocates for AED accessibility and education.
Damar Hamlin advocates for AED accessibility and education. (Photo illustration: Alex Cochran for Yahoo News; photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Nearly two years ago, NFL fans watched in horror as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) midgame. But the now-26-year-old football star is back in action and better than ever, kicking off the season as a starter for the first time and achieving other career firsts. He knows all too well that none of that would be possible without the life-saving interventions he received during his health scare on Jan. 2, 2023, which included CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore his heart rhythm.

Hamlin tells Yahoo Life that he had virtually no awareness of AEDs until one of the portable devices was used on him. “I think that's a big reason why I'm passionate about making sure that people like me are educated,” he says, “because you don't know until it affects you.”

As the face of AED manufacturer Zoll Medical’s “Anything Can Happen. Anyone Can Help” campaign, Hamlin is bringing attention to the necessity of accessible AEDs and how easy they are to use. That’s just one of the many lessons Hamlin has learned over the course of his recovery. Here’s what he says about prioritizing his health, taking risks and staying focused on the field.

Hamlin spent several days in critical condition in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He says that apart from learning what had happened to him after gaining consciousness a few days later, he was stunned to hear how common SCA, in which the heart suddenly stops beating due to an irregular rhythm, is.

“Learning that [SCA] is the leading cause of death in youth sports. I think that was kind of the craziest thing to hear,” says Hamlin. “Kids just play sports to have fun … [and] chase dreams. They never expect a situation like that to happen.”

While sudden cardiac death among young athletes is still relatively rare — an estimated 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 80,000 experience it — researchers have supported having AEDs near playing fields because they significantly improve survival rates.

Hamlin’s medical emergency hasn’t put him off playing professional football; if anything, it has assured him that there are safety measures in place should anything go wrong.

“I was surely aware of it being a violent sport. It’s a dangerous game,” says Hamlin. “But something that my trainers always tell me is that the NFL field is one of the safest places to be because you’ve got so many professionals looking right over you all at once.”

He’s previously credited Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington, who performed CPR in the moments before an AED was available, with saving his life. Kellington was part of the training staff who later accepted the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2023 ESPYS. Having him and other trainers nearby has helped Hamlin feel comfortable returning to the game. “That’s something that helps my thought process going forward,” says Hamlin.

Hamlin says that he has relied heavily on mental strength during his comeback. “The game is just mental,” he says. “You’ve got to have a strong mental process to be able to go through the day-to-day.”

He adds, “My body might not feel good, but I’ve got to be mentally strong enough to continue my process and stay at it because consistency is what will take you far throughout a season.”

When it comes to his physical training, Hamlin says not much has changed since his cardiac arrest. “I probably got a little bit more consistent. You know, I’m older now, a little more of a vet [with a] more focused, more locked-in approach,” he says. “I’ve got goals. I'm just there trying to accomplish them.”

His story is making a difference

The American Heart Association reported a major spike in interest in hands-only CPR in the days following Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, which could lead to greater bystander intervention and higher survival rates for the 350,000 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year in the United States.

“I know the impact that I'm able to have on other people. I'm well aware of it, and I take a lot of pride in it,” says Hamlin. “That's why I take charge in doing initiatives and [campaigns like] ‘Anything Can Happen’ with Zoll, because I know the importance of it.”

When it comes to football, Hamlin is living fearlessly. But that’s not to say that some things don’t scare him. “There's certain things I won't do,” he says. “Somebody told me yesterday they want to go swimming with sharks, and I would never do that. Like, I would never put myself in danger around wild animals.”

He is open to skydiving, however. “I would do it, but like, when I get a little older,” he says. “Fear is not a real feeling. I mean, it's real, but I just have my own ways of dealing with it. I like to keep control of any unpredictable factors.”