Jiri Fischer reacts to shocking Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest

It truly was a frightening scene early last month on Monday Night Football between the Cincinnati Bengals and visiting Buffalo Bills, as Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed to the ground after a routine tackling play. CPR was administered before he was taken away via ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. 

Thankfully, things improved for Hamlin, and he was soon able to return home to Buffalo and even met with his teammates and attended their recent postseason game at HighMark Stadium.

For people in the Motor City, Hamlin's frightening collapse brings back memories from November of 2005 when Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer suffered cardiac arrest on the bench during the 1st period of a game against the Nashville Predators. Trainers and doctors frantically worked to necessitate Fischer, using CPR and employing the use of an AED before he was rushed to a nearby hospital. 

Fischer, who now works for the Red Wings and participated after the annual Shocks and Saves game at the Dow Event Center on Saturday night in Saginaw, certainly drew parallels between his frightening event and Hamlin's. 

“Scary, emotional, life changing,” Fischer described of cardiac arrest. 

For Fischer, he described waking up in the hospital as initially thinking that he was waking up from a nap with no recollection of what had happened.

“I was taking a nap,” Fischer said. “I didn’t know any of this. I wake up in the hospital and I’ve got stinky hockey underwear on. I kind of looked around and thought I had a concussion."

“Thank God Tony was on the scene. As I found out later Tony had everything under control.”

He was speaking of Red Wings medical director Tony Calucci as well as team physician Greg Plagens, who both worked to revive Fischer's heart on the bench. 

“Everyone was frightened,” Fischer said. “The team came in groups of four or five. The support I received was incredible.”

We're certainly thankful that both Fischer and Hamlin are still with us today after their frightening incidents on their respective playing fields.