In a highly anticipated game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Jan. 2, an unexpected turn left millions silent and in shock. Midway through the first quarter during the Bengals second drive of the game, Bills safety Damar Hamlin made what seemed like a normal tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin momentarily stood up before collapsing to the ground.

The medical staff rushed onto the field and immediately started administering CPR to Hamlin. For over eight minutes Hamlin’s lifeless body lay on the field while the eyes of millions around the nation watched. Players from both teams stood around Hamlin in disbelief. After CPR, Hamlin was carted off the field in an ambulance and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

At first the game was temporarily postponed. Fans and players were told that the game would resume in five minutes, but after the two head coaches met, both teams headed to the locker room. The fans were left completely in the dark about the game’s future. Announcers and media in charge of covering the game were stunned. The broadcast sat almost silent for nearly an hour while the world wondered what happened to Hamlin. Over an hour after Hamlin was taken to the hospital, the NFL announced that the game would be suspended.

Many suspect that Hamlin suffered commotio cordis. This occurs when someone suffers blunt force trauma to the chest on the downbeat of the heart, which only lasts 20 milliseconds. This condition is extremely rare with doctors saying it only happens 30 to 40 times a year worldwide.

On the morning of Jan. 5, doctors told Hamlin’s family that he is awake but not breathing on his own. Hamlin is also able to communicate through writing. Hamlin continues to recover in the hospital and doctors suspect he will make a full recovery soon.