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Retired NFL running back Peyton Hillis remains hospitalized after a swimming accident in Florida where emergency services flew the former Cleveland Browns star from a Pensacola beach, as seen in newly released photos. .
Hillis, 36, reportedly saved her two children from potentially drowning, but ended up in intensive care as a result for treatment on her lungs and kidneys. Both children, Hillis’s son Orry and her youngest daughter, are safe and neither needed hospitalization.
The photos show a helicopter and two ambulances arriving at the scene on Wednesday. Another adult was also rushed to the hospital, according to TMZ.
The University of Arkansas, Hillis’s alma mater, posted an update Friday: “Encouraged to know that he is better after his heroic act to save his family.”
Retired NFL running back Peyton Hillis remains hospitalized after a swimming accident in Florida where emergency services flew the former Cleveland Browns star from a Pensacola beach, as seen in newly released photos. .
Hillis, 36, reportedly saved her two children from potentially drowning, but ended up in intensive care as a result for treatment on her lungs and kidneys. Both children, Hillis’s son Orry and her youngest daughter, are safe and neither needed hospitalization.
The Razorbacks aren’t the only ones praising Hillis for his parenting skills.
“What a remarkable father who makes the ultimate sacrifice for his children and prays he gets better and is there again for his children,” one Twitter user wrote.
“A lot of kids think of their dad as their hero, but Peyton Hillis’s kids can now literally say their dad saved their lives,” added another.
Hillis was reportedly unconscious Wednesday after being airlifted to a local hospital, where his breathing is now “improving” in the intensive care unit, according to an update.
A chaotic scene is shown on a Pensacola beach, where Peyton Hillis was rescued after a swimming accident on Wednesday.
A man identified as Hillis’s uncle revealed the update in a Facebook post Thursday night, adding that his nephew was having lung and kidney problems.
“Just wanted everyone in the Razorback Nation to know that Peyton is doing better,” wrote Greg Hillis. “She is still in intensive care and she has some problems with her kidneys and lungs, but the doctors say she is doing better.”
A Browns spokesman declined to comment, saying the team was waiting for news of Hillis’ condition to be confirmed before doing so.
Hillis’s former agent, Kennard McGuire, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Chris Ogbonnaya, another former running back for the Browns, asked fans on Twitter to pray for his former teammate: “Please keep former teammate Peyton Hillis in your thoughts and prayers.”
Former NFL safety Antoine Bethea made a similar post: “Prayers for Peyton Hillis!!”
The photos show a helicopter and two ambulances arriving at the scene on Wednesday. Another adult was also rushed to the hospital, according to TMZ.
Hillis is seen being taken to an ambulance after a swimming accident on a Florida beach.
Many online reactions praised Hillis as a good father and a likeable man. One podcaster was especially fond of his time with Hillis.
“Peyton Hillis is a super nice guy,” a podcaster known as Sir Yacht tweeted. ‘An absolute fool and I mean that in the best possible way. He is a hero for saving his children from drowning today. I pray a lot for him and hope he has a quick and safe recovery.
“Guy saved his kids from drowning and is now hospitalized,” wrote one Twitter user. “Speedy recovery for a father who puts his children above all else, some people don’t always.”
The former Browns star had been trying his hand at acting in recent years and appeared in the horror film, The Hunting, in 2021.
He co-starred with actress Angela Cole in that movie, and the two are now dating.
The film was something of a homecoming for Hillis, as it was filmed in the Cleveland suburb of Mantua, Ohio.
Cole first went public with their relationship in a Facebook post on July 6, 2022.
Cole wrote: ‘I don’t care what they say about you, Peyt. I think you’re pretty cool. Sometimes there is someone who comes into your life and changes everything. I am so incredibly thankful for you.
Hillis appeared to confirm the relationship on her unverified Instagram page in August.
He said: ‘I mean the Bahamas were beautiful… but she’s just’ before adding several emojis with hearts on them.’
Former Cleveland Browns running back Chris Ogbonnaya also asked fans to pray for Hillis.
The University of Arkansas, Hillis’s alma mater, posted an update Friday: “Encouraged to know that he is better after his heroic act to save his family.”
Hillis’s children are seen with his now-ex-wife, Amanda, during their short stay in Kansas City.
Hillis pictured with her girlfriend Angela Cole, an actress, who is not the mother of her children.
Hillis divorced the mother of his children, Amanda, in 2020.
After beginning his career with the Denver Broncos, Hillis was traded to the Browns along with a sixth round pick for backup QB Brady Quinn.
In four years at the University of Arkansas, Hillis totaled 960 rushing yards and 1,197 receiving yards while scoring 23 touchdowns.
Cole confirmed the relationship in a social media post on July 6, 2022.
Hillis is best known for his 2010 season with Cleveland where he had 1,600 total yards and 13 total touchdowns. As a result of that campaign, he won a national vote to be the cover athlete for the video game EA Sports Madden 12.
After two seasons in Cleveland, he left as a free agent to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.
He concluded his professional career playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants.
Hillis retired in 2015 at the request of his doctor due to a history of concussions.
He spoke to Bleacher Report in 2015 about his frank struggles with mental health and depression when he decided to leave the game he loved.
“I was going through a really bad depression during that time,” he said of his years in Cleveland in particular. ‘He was getting help because he couldn’t sleep, he was so upset because everything was going the way it was and no one could understand.
On his decision to retire, he said: ‘After a while, it became too difficult. I didn’t care so much anymore, I didn’t mind working on it. Soccer depressed me. I still love the game and I still have a lot of friends in the game, but when it comes to NFL football, my heart isn’t in it anymore.’
Hillis’ spectacular 2010 season had fans voting for him for the cover of EA Sports’ Madden 12.