Photo: Getty Images
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin got emotional while thanking the training staff who saved his life at the 2023 ESPYs.
On Wednesday (July 12), Hamlin took the ESPYs stage to honor the Bills' staffers with the Pat Tillman Award for Service following his mid-game cardiac arrest in January, per People.
The Bills star detailed his journey in a video tribute to the staff before handing the award to the group.
“I didn't wake up that morning in January thinking that I would need someone to save my life that day, and I doubt that the staff thought that they had to do what they did either," Hamlin said in the video.“What I've taken away from what happened to me six and a half months ago, is that any of us at any given time are capable of doing something that's incredible, in saving a life and living a life in service to others."
"It’s a blessing. It’s a responsibility. And it's the very reason why you’re hearing my voice right now. Anyone could be a hero. These are mine," he added.
Hamlin broke down in tears as the first responders took the stage to accept the service award. Nate Breske, the Buffalo Bills' head athletic trainer, delivered a powerful acceptance speech on behalf of the rest of the staffers.
“I'm humbled and honored to be speaking tonight, representing the Buffalo Bills athletic training staff... By the grace of God and divine intervention, we had the best outcome we could have prayed for," Breske said. “It was a massive army of specialists who came together on and off the field to do their jobs at night. That team includes the athletic trainers and medical staffs, equipment, managers, player, engagement, personnel, mental health clinicians, chaplains, security on-field first responders, paramedics, and the entire medical staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center."
Following the collapse, Hamlin has been cleared to return to the field and rejoined the team in recent practices.
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