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NFL star Damar Hamlin's fundraiser to raise money for toys for children in need has surpassed $3.4 million, only hours after the football player suffered a cardiac arrest during a match on Monday night.
Hamlin is in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a primetime U.S. National Football League game on Monday.
The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player fell to the ground after colliding with an opponent during the first quarter of the match against the Cincinnati Bengals. He received medical attention on-field for more than 30 minutes after the collision with wide receiver Tee Higgins, before being rushed to a local hospital.
About an hour after the incident, the NFL suspended the game. It is rare that the league suspends games because of an injury, highlighting the severity of the incident.
Hamlin remains in hospital in critical condition. His representative Jordon Rooney wrote early on Tuesday on Twitter: "His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them."
Hamlin's fundraiser was created in 2020to raise funds to purchase toys for children that were hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. It initially had a fundraising goal of $2,500. The toys were distributed on December 22, 2022 from Kelly and Nina's Daycare Center at 800 Russellwood Ave., McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.
Since Hamlin collapsed on Monday night, funds have surged. GoFundMe on Monday tweeted a link to the fundraiser, saying: "Following his injury on the field tonight, fans across the country are showing their support for him and his family by donating to his fundraiser."
The page raised more than $650,000 an hour after Hamlin collapsed on Monday night, USA Today reported. As of early on Tuesday morning, more than $3.4 million had been raised in total.
Words of support for the NFL player and his family have flooded the page, along with donations.
"Praying for Damar Hamlin…the entire world is lifting this young man up," tweeted Larry Fitzgerald, an NFL wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.
Tre Norwood, a Pittsburgh Steelers safety, tweeted: "I love you twin…@HamlinIsland. I know you gone bounce back. God got you!"
The well-wishes extended beyond the world of NFL with basketball legend LeBron James tweeting: "Praying for you kid!!"
Newsweek has contacted the Buffalo Bills and Rooney for comment. Newsweek has also contacted GoFundMe for more information on the fundraiser.
Pennsylvania-born Hamlin joined the Bills in 2021 as a safety, according to his Pittsburgh Panthers profile. The Panthers are the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh. He was a sixth-round draft pick after playing for the university in the 2016-2020 seasons.
Update 1/3/23, 9:08 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include further details.
About the writer
Jack Dutton is a Newsweek Reporter based in Cape Town, South Africa. His focus is reporting on global politics and ... Read more