Damar Hamlin's ventilator has been reduced from 100% to just 50%

NFL star Damar Hamlin's ventilator has been reduced from 100% to just 50% following his shock injury on Monday night, multiple sources have reported.

The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety was in the midst of his team's game against the Cincinnati Bengals when he stood up from what appeared to be a routine tackle against Bengals' wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Hamlin was seen to be unsteady on his feet before he fell flat on his back. Medics swiftly arrived on the scene, and an ambulance was on the field within five minutes.

While paramedics were administering CPR, players and coaches from both teams knelt around Hamlin and prayed for his safety - many of them tearful and emotional. Shortly afterward, Hamlin's family released a statement thanking the medical professionals who acted so swiftly following his horrifying collapse.

An ambulance arrived on the field within five minutes of Hamlin's terrifying collapse. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

"On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country. We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar," the statement began.

"We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they've done. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them," it concluded, per ESPN.

Since the incident on Monday night, Hamlin was resuscitated twice and, as previously reported, cardiologists suspect that the tackle may have triggered a condition known as commotio cordis. The condition affects one in 264 million and disrupts the heartbeat and blood flow around the body.

Latest updates have confirmed that Hamlin sustained lung damage, but his ventilator usage has been dropped to just half at 50%. His uncle, Dorrian Glenn, told reporters outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Tuesday evening: "Right now there's just trying to get him to breathe better. Right now he's on a ventilator just to help with the breathing.

"He's got a bit of lung damage from yesterday, but he was at 100 percent on the ventilator helping him breathe, but now he's at 50 percent, so that's a good thing. Like I said, we're just going to take it day by day. I'm grateful for all the prayers and support," he stated, via The Daily Mail.

The NFL revealed in a recent statement that the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals' game would not be rescheduled this week, stating: "The NFL continues to be in regular contact with the medical team caring for Damar Hamlin, and also the Bills and Bengals organizations and the NFL Players Association. After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week.

"The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date. The league has not made any changes to the Week 18 regular season schedule. We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available," the statement continued.

Featured image credit: Kirby Lee / Alamy