Why did Damar Hamlin's heart stop: All you need to know about the cardiac arrest of the Buffalo Bills' Safety

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the pitch in a week 17 matchup between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. The 24-year-old made a routine tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and slumped to the turf shortly after. It turns out that Hamlin suffered a heart attack immediately after the play, and the game was subsequently suspended later.

The Bills' safety is currently at a Cincinnati hospital where medical personnel give him round-the-clock care. Here, we will give you an update on Hamlin's present condition and why his heart stopped.

Why did Damar Hamlin's heart stop?

Damar Hamlin's heart stopped due to a condition known as commotio cordis. Commotio Cordis can happen to a person with a normal heart, when blunt trauma to an individual's chest – often while participating in sports – leads to cardiac arrest where their heart stops pumping blood.

In Hamlin's case, the blunt trauma likely occurred after Tee Higgins' helmet came into contact with his chest during his intended tackle. That is why he dropped to the turf abruptly following what can only be described as a routine footballing action.

However, it would be highly irresponsible to offer a diagnosis of a mere video alone. Proper tests have to be conducted on Hamlin, along with a host of other activities, before we can be sure that he indeed suffered from commotio cordis.

Many doctors speculate that commotio cordis was the reason for Hamlin's heart failure because it was soon after he collided with another football player, and the impact could have been responsible. But in most cases, a diagnosis is only made after an autopsy when all other potential arrhythmia causes have been ruled out. We sure hope Hamlin does not need to undergo an autopsy now or anytime soon.

Any update on Damar Hamlin's condition?

Damar Hamlin's family has been giving the NFL world and other well-wishers frequent updates on Hamlin's situation. The latest update stated that Hamlin is alive and the doctors are doing their best to ensure he returns to good health.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Damar Hamlin's family stated that they would provide updates on his well-being "as soon as we have them."

"On behalf of our family, we express our immense gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this tasking time. The prayers deeply move us as a family, kind words and donations from fans all over the country," the family's statement read via Hamlin's agent.

We will keep you posted if we get more updates regarding the Bills' safety.