NFL followers who went to -20C sport attended by Taylor Swift ‘underwent amputations after struggling frostbite’

At least “some” NFL followers who attended a near-record chilly sport in Kansas City suffered excessive frostbite and needed to bear amputations, docs have revealed.

Spectators braved -20C (-4F) temperatures to look at the Kansas City Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium within the AFC wildcard spherical again on 13 January.

The wind chill – what the temperature feels prefer to the human physique – dipped as little as -33C (-27F).

As a end result, some followers have been handled for frostbite, which causes injury to the pores and skin and tissue, notably extremities corresponding to fingers and toes, after publicity to freezing temperatures.

The Research Medical Centre in Kansas stated it had handled dozens of people that had skilled frostbite throughout an 11-day chilly snap initially of the yr.

Twelve of these individuals, together with some who have been on the soccer sport, needed to bear amputations involving largely fingers and toes.

The centre stated it was anticipating to hold out extra surgical procedures over the following few weeks as “injuries evolve”.

Christine Hamele, affiliate vice chairman of HCA Midwest Health, which operates seven hospitals, together with the Research Medical Centre and its Grossman Burn Centre, stated: “To date, 12 patients have undergone amputation surgeries, some of which attended the Chiefs game.

“Our specialised physicians and professional care crew proceed to deal with and monitor sufferers’ therapeutic to deal with long-term wants, and we count on extra surgical procedures over the following two to 4 weeks as their accidents evolve.”

However, Ms Hamele cautioned towards drawing any direct strains between amputations and the 13 January sport as a result of the frostbite might have resulted from different exposures.

“Some patients came in post-Chief game, assuming it would heal,” she stated.

“When they arrived in the outpatient, they don’t always reference the Chiefs game. For example, one gentleman was at the Chiefs game, but is also a meter reader.”

The University of Kansas hospital stated it additionally handled frostbite victims after the sport, however did not report any amputations.

Frostbite can happen on uncovered pores and skin inside half-hour, Dr Megan Garcia, medical director of the Grossman Burn Centre, stated.

She added that the timing will be even shorter if there’s a wind chill.

The 13 January sport – which ended with a 26-7 victory for Kansas over Miami – grew to become the coldest on file to be held in Arrowhead Stadium historical past.

At one level throughout the match, Andy Reid, the top coach of the Chiefs, was seen with a build-up of ice on his moustache.

However, it narrowly missed out on being the coldest sport in NFL historical past, which stays the 1967 NFL Championship in Wisconsin, the place temperatures reached -25C, incomes it the nickname the “Ice Bowl”.

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Taylor Swift was among the many spectators at Arrowhead on 13 January, supporting her boyfriend and Chiefs tight finish, Travis Kelce.

However, she averted the below-freezing temperatures in a luxurious suite. Later in the identical month, the couple celebrated Kelce’s Super Bowl victory – making headlines world wide.

Outside on the 13 January match, followers have been allowed to carry heated blankets into the stadium and small items of cardboard to position beneath their toes on the chilly concrete.

Fifteen followers, 10 with cold-related signs, have been taken to hospitals by the Kansas City Fire Department that night, in keeping with officers.

In New York, the wild-card sport between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled for a similar day was pushed again on account of heavy snow.