‘It’s kind of a reality check’: Rams linebacker reacts to Hamlin injury

The nightmare scenario that unfolded on a football field in Cincinnati on Monday resonated with Regina’s Ryder Varga.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during Monday’s NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals after taking a shoulder to the chest from Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.

Hamlin stood up after the hit, but then collapsed. After getting CPR and other emergency treatment on the field, Hamlin was taken by ambulance to a Cincinnati hospital, where he was in critical condition Tuesday.

Varga, a linebacker with the University of Regina Rams, was watching the game on TV when Hamlin collapsed.

“It’s scary. It’s kind of a reality check,” Varga said Tuesday. “It’s something that you didn’t know you could be worried about. It’s a freak accident.

“I think Chris Pronger had a similar thing where he got a slapshot to the chest and he collapsed in the playoffs.”

During an NHL playoff game on May 10, 1998, Pronger — then a defenceman with the St. Louis Blues — was hit on the left side of his chest by a shot from Detroit Red Wings defenceman Dmitri Mironov.

Pronger stood up after taking the puck to the chest, but quickly fell to the ice. Medical personnel immediately rushed to aid the 23-year-old blueliner, who was in distress.

After being stabilized, Pronger was taken to hospital and diagnosed with commotio cordis, a condition that occurs when a person’s heart stops beating after a blow to the chest causes abnormal electrical activity in the heart.

Pronger returned to the ice two nights later.

It’s currently unknown what caused Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.

Varga said athletes know the risks of playing a sport and prepare for injuries to occur, but they never expect something to the extent that occurred Monday.

“You hope it’s a bruised arm or a broken bone. You never expect for your heart to stop. Most of the injuries nowadays are just bumps and bruises, and strains and concussions are the major ones,” he said.

Varga has seen teammates and opponents get injured on the field before.

“I’ve seen a lot of my teammates and friends and opponents on the field screaming in pain and it’s a moment that you need to take yourself back and realize that’s ultimately a human person,” he said.

“When it comes down to it, it’s just another human being and you want nothing more than for everyone to get home safe and not have anything to deal with. You just think of the families of the people.

“It’s sad whenever a big injury like that happens.”

While Hamlin’s injury is a moment that puts things into perspective and something an athlete needs to be aware of, Varga said the situation isn’t something that will change his love of the sport.

“It’s a freak accident and I don’t think it ultimately changes the way I play the game …,” he said. “It’s a violent sport and things like that can unfortunately happen.”