A football player, Damar Hamlin, who plays for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed during his Monday night game on the field against the Bengals when his heart reportedly stopped beating.

According to Fox News, medical personnel rushed onto the field and administered CPR to Hamlin before he was revived and taken by ambulance to a Cincinnati hospital. Hamlin is reportedly still in critical condition.

The medical emergency sparked an immediate outpouring of prayers and well wishes from fans, commentators and other players, and drew attention to the particularly dangerous nature of America’s most popular sport.

In images that surfaced on social media early Tuesday morning, players and fans at the stadium wept as medical personnel worked to revive Hamlin. The game was later postponed.

Fox News is reporting that midway through the first quarter of Monday night’s matchup, Hamlin was hit hard in the chest when he tackled the Bengals’ Tee Higgins.

He then stood up and suddenly collapsed to the ground, with medical personnel rushing onto the field soon after.

Players from both NFL teams, clearly shaken by what they had witnessed, gathered around Hamlin during treatment, which ESPN said included CPR, with many kneeling in prayer and some openly crying.

At 1:48 a.m. local time, the Bills confirmed that Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after the hit and that his heart rate had been restored on the field. He is currently sedated and remains in critical condition.

The NFL then released a statement saying league commissioner Roger Goodell had announced the game had been postponed and provided details about Hamlin’s condition.

The statement read: “Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field from the team, independent medical personnel and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition,” the league said in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

“The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association, which has agreed to postpone the game.”

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