[ad_1]
FILE–Former NFL running back Peyton Hillis. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP
Former NFL running back Peyton Hillis remained hospitalized Friday after helping to save two children from drowning on a Pensacola, Florida beach.
Marvin Caston, who played football at Arkansas and is also connected to the football program, confirmed for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Hillis went into the ocean on Wednesday to save his child and other family members from drowning.
“One of Peyton’s children and another relative’s child went too far out to sea, and Peyton and another relative went out to rescue them, which they did,” Caston told the paper. “But Peyton got a lot of salt water in his lungs and almost drowned.
“[A Hillis family member] said he had been working at the hospital to have all the salt water pumped out of his lungs and to restore kidney function.
KNWA-TV FOX24 in Arkansas reported Thursday night that Hillis, 36, was unconscious and on a ventilator. Greg Hillis, identified by Arkansas media as Peyton’s uncle, posted on Facebook that “Peyton is doing better. He is still in intensive care and has problems with his kidneys and lungs, but doctors say he is getting better.
The Arkansas football program sent a well-wish to Hillis via Twitter on Friday.
“Thinking about our man @thepeytonhillis,” the post read. “It is recommended to study him better after his heroic act of saving his family.”
The Pensacola News Journal reports that first responders in Escambia County, Fla., conducted a water rescue just before noon Wednesday at Pensacola Beach. In all, four swimmers in distress were rescued, with two adults taken to hospital, one via helicopter.
Some reports said the children were safe and that the patient being transported by helicopter was Hillis.
Hillis played fullback at Arkansas from 2004-07 and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played seven seasons with the Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants.
His best NFL season came in 2010 with the Browns, when he rushed for 1,177 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He added 477 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
In his career, he carried the ball 696 times for 2,832 yards and 23 touchdowns in 81 games (34 starts). He caught 134 passes for 1,050 yards and three more scores.
Field Level Media
Read Next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & 70+ other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to news, download from 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.
[ad_2]
Source link