Several people shed tears during an emotional moment as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin gave an award to the men and women who helped save his life. 

Football is a violent sport filled with quick, massive world-class athletes slamming into and tackling one another on every play. Injuries are a common occurrence during a regular game of football. But what happened during a January Monday night game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was anything but ordinary. It was frightening. 

Following the end of a play, Damar was seen collapsing to the ground. Emergency crews rushed onto the field, attending to the player. It was later revealed that he had suffered cardiac arrest. He spent several days in the hospital while his life hung in the balance. He has since been released and has been OK’d to resume playing football.

During ESPN’s most recent ESPYS award ceremony, Damar presented the medical professionals who rushed to his side – the Buffalo Bills training staff – with the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

As the clip posted on YouTube shows, Damar was already emotional as he approached the microphone, wiping tears from his eyes. The entire room responded by giving the young man a standing ovation. 

While speaking on behalf of the entire training staff, Nate Breske, thanked the good Lord for His assistance in keeping Damar alive.

“By the grace of God and divine intervention, we had the best outcome we could have prayed for or imagined,” he said. 

Near the end of his speech, Nate stated that while Damar’s situation was frightening, one good thing did come from it.

“Damar’s injury was able to bring our nation together for a moment and show the world the power of prayer,” he said.

Mark 11:24 “For this reason I say to you, ‘Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it.”