Photo: Kellie Landis/Allsport/Getty Images
On April 10, 2005, the player Al Lucas died after a play in which he tackled Corey Johnson, who was returning a kickoff during the game between the Los Angeles Avengers and the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League.
The dramatic accident suffered this week by Damar Hamlin, in which he suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of a game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, reminds us of the tragic episode in which Lucas died at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, now called Crypto Arena.
Tragedy befell the Staples Center
The play paralyzed the Staples Center and despite the fact that the doctors tried to revive the Los Angeles Avengers player, unfortunately it was not possible and he would die from a spinal cord injury.
Replays showed that Lucas’s helmet was impacted by Johnson’s knee in what would have been a routine play but nonetheless left this tragic result as Lucas, a huge athlete, was unable to move further after falling to the ground.
18 years ago (April 10, 2005) we lost Al Lucas of the Los Angeles Avengers (Arena Football League) after a tackle was made against the New York Dragons at Staples Center. I tear up every time I see an athlete go down after a hit. Last night I broke down crying. pic.twitter.com/xtZPtUklQu
— BR1FOX (@BrianFox1978) January 4, 2023
Similarities of the Damar Hamlin case
As happened in the game last Monday where Damar Hamlin was treated immediately, on that occasion Al Lucas was treated quickly. However, at that time, the player was pronounced dead at the hospital after attempts to resuscitate him by doctors at the arena and at a downtown Los Angeles health center failed.
Al Lucas, who was 26 years old at the time of his death, had had a stint in the NFL where he played a total of 20 games with the Carolina Panthersthis before leaving for the AFL.
The Chuck Hughes case
It should be noted that in the NFL there is a history of The only player to have died on a court and it was in 1971 when catcher Chuck Hughes, then with the Detroit Lions, collapsed in full game against the Chicago Bears.
On that occasion, Hughes would end up dying from a coronary thrombosis and it was known that he suffered from advanced arteriosclerosis.
Damar Hamlin is currently recovering, although her condition remains critical. She barely managed to wake up on Wednesday night and we must wait for the development of events in the following hours.
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