Cincinnati, Ohio - Damar Hamlin is thankful for the "overwhelming" love he has received since the Buffalo Bills safety suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday.

Hamlin's message came in his first social media post since collapsing after tackling Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of Monday's game.

The 24-year-old was resuscitated on the field and remains in a critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, though updates from the hospital have been positive, revealing he is breathing unaided and has spoken to his Bills team-mates.

After the Bills confirmed Hamlin was showing continued improvement on Saturday, the player shared an Instagram post expressing his gratitude for the support he has been given.

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"When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you three times as much," Hamlin said. "The love has been overwhelming."

"But I'm thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. We brung the world back together behind this," he added.

"If you know me you know this only gone make me stronger. On a long road keep praying for me!"

After the Bengals-Bills game was suspended following Hamlin's collapse, the NFL confirmed on Friday the matchup would not be resumed, with owners approving plans for changes to the playoffs.