Brave Dad Peyton Hillis Who Saved Kids From Drowning in Ocean Is Out of Hospital After 2 Weeks | “Truly a Miracle”

Former NFL running back Peyton Hillis was reportedly hospitalized after a swimming accident where he saved his kids from drowning. The 36-year-old father had been in the hospital since January 4. He had to be helicoptered to the hospital where he was unconscious in the ICU and placed on a ventilator. A week later he was taken off of it and in the intensive care unit for treatment on his lungs and kidneys. The brave dad was finally discharged from a Florida hospital on Thursday, his sister, Hayley Davis, said online.

In her update, she wrote that "everything health-wise is looking good and has all improved" for Hillis and that his progress was "truly a miracle." The family's "lives were rocked" after Hillis was helicoptered to the hospital. "I remember seeing Peyt laid out on the sand unable to move and my mom having to run back and forth between us as the medics helped each of us. I just kept praying that Peyt would be ok and I’m so happy to say Yahweh provided," she shared. Davis added that her family is "all so thankful for the prayers and kind words over the past few weeks."

The athlete had a seven-year NFL career from 2008 to 2014 with the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants. Peyton played for them after being drafted out of Arkansas by Denver in the seventh round. The hero had a visit from legendary running back Emmitt Smith which meant a lot to the athlete who previously told ESPN in 2011 that although he was named after Walter Payton his "football idols at RB were Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith," he said. Smith posted a sweet snap of the two during his visit. "I had the opportunity to visit a recovering hero this week," Smith wrote. "Praying for his healing."

According to the New York Post, the former NFL star shares his two children with his ex-wife Amanda Hillis and is currently dating Angela Cole. The singer and actress is his costar from the 2021 indie thriller The Hunting.

Cole also posted an update of Hillis with the hospital staff, writing, "The amount of love and gratitude I have for the incredible team that took care of Peyton is indescribable."  She admitted that the picture  "does not have anywhere near the amount of people who took such great care of him. To Baptist Hospital in Pensacola: Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

References:

https://www.espn.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/26981/peyton-hillis-discusses-madden-tourney

https://nypost.com/2023/01/05/peyton-hillis-in-intensive-care-after-saving-kids-from-drowning/

Cover Image Source: Facebook | Angela Cole