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Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own and able to talk after having his breathing tube removed.
- Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during the Bengals-Bills clash
- Medics worked on Hamlin for 16 minutes on the field before he was transported to hospital
- The match has been cancelled and will not be replayed
Hamlin's agent revealed the latest step in the NFL safety's remarkable recovery on Friday (local time), four days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin even joined the Bills' team meeting on Friday morning via video conference, and told them, "love you boys."
"I probably won't be able to do it justice," Bills coach Sean McDermott said.
"But just to see Damar, number one, through my own eyes, it was something I was hoping to see and kind of something I needed to see.
"And to see the players' reaction, they stood up right away and started clapping for him and yelling some things."
McDermott said he kept it a secret from the team before announcing he had "a treat in store" for them — putting Hamlin on the big screen in the meeting room.
"He's just an infectious young man with an infectious personality," McDermott said.
The 24-year-old was still listed on Thursday in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Aside from being able to communicate by writing, Hamlin has also been able to grip people's hands.
In a Friday statement, the team said Hamlin's "neurologic function remains intact and he has been able to talk to his family and care team."
"So we know that it's not only that the lights are on. We know that he's home. And it appears that all the cylinders are firing within his brain, which is greatly gratifying for all of us," Timothy Pritts said.
"He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care."
Hamlin's recovery continues to trend in a positive direction after his heart stopped while making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter of a game against the Bengals.
The second-year player spent his first two days in the hospital under sedation to allow his body to recover, and on a ventilator to assist his breathing.
The sight of Hamlin collapsing, which was broadcast to a North American TV audience, has led to an outpouring of support from fans and players from across the league.
The match between the Bills and the Bengals, which would not have had an impact on which teams made the playoffs but would have potentially decided other factors like home ground advantage, has been cancelled.
AP