I was watching the World Junior Hockey championships with the intent of switching to the football game afterward. My Sister (big Bills fan) started texting me to ask if I was watching the game. I told her I would be in a few minutes and she began to explain the situation. I texted back that it sounded like a hard blow with bad timing had stopped his heart for a second and he'd be fine. It all went downhill from there. Critical condition??! I've never heard of such a thing.
It's rare to occur in football - I've never heard of it happening, but it makes a certain amount of sense. It's usually a sport with a hard, small "ball" that is shot with force. It happened to Chris Pronger (NHL HOFer) when he was struck with a shot puck - he ended up being fine (after they restarted his heart). It seems to happen a lot with fathers pitching to their children at short range and getting smacked by the comebacker in the chest. When this occurs (as it often does) in a backyard or park, the victim often dies. This is why, in
canada at least, there is supposed to be a defibrillator in every public sports facility.
I think I understand what happened, I just can't figure out why the result has been so severe. With immediate, excellent medical attention, this kind of thing should be "nothing" in terms of lasting effects. This is perhaps the most horrible thing I've ever seen happen on a professional sports field. It seems as life threatening as a severe spinal injury with none of the obviously bone shattering impact.
abcnews.go.com
