Damar Hamlin released from Buffalo General Medical Center

Colleen Farrell News10NBC

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from Buffalo General Medical Center, the Bills announced on Wednesday.

He was hospitalized after going into cardiac arrest during a game on Jan. 2 at the Cincinnati Bengals. He was first hospitalized at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he started in critical condition on a ventilator until his condition improved. Then, on Monday, he traveled back to Buffalo and was admitted to Buffalo General Medical Center for some cardiac, neurological, and vascular tests.

According to critical care physician Dr. Jamie Nadler, those tests show good signs.

“We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills,” Dr. Nadler said.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is out of the hospital and back in Buffalo.

The doctors who care for Hamlin after his collapse during the Bills-Bengals game last week announced the good news Monday afternoon. Damar had been in critical condition since going into cardiac arrest minutes into the first quarter.

Damar is now at Buffalo General Hospital, he said on Twitter.

Dr. William Knight, professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, said he, along with other medical staff and Bills players, traveled with Damar to the airport Monday to see him off to Buffalo. Doctors will monitor him to make sure the travel did not affect his health, specifically his lungs.

“I can confirm he is doing well and this is the beginning of the next stage of his recovery,” Dr. Knight said.

His breathing tube was removed Friday morning, and Damar walked his first lap that day, according to Dr. Timothy Pritts from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

“Normal recovery from something like this can be measured in weeks to months and he’s been a little bit ahead of that at each stage,” he added.

His care team will continue to try help Damar get back to his baseline, doctors said.

“It is entirely too premature to discuss not only his football, it’s, we’re really focused on his day-to-day recovery. He still has a little bit of a ways to go in terms of his ongoing recovery. We’re thrilled to where he is today. He’s up, he’s walking around, he’s got an amazing genuine sense of humor, and his family is amazing and we’re happy he’s with them but in terms of any kind of conjecture with his future, that’s still significantly into the future and it’s going to be up to Damar and a great team of physicians to help him,” Dr. Knight added.

The Bills honored Damar, and the first responders who provided critical care in the moments after he collapsed on the field, at Sunday’s game in Orchard Park. The Bills will host the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

More about Damar’s recovery: