Former NFL running back Peyton Hillis is in a critical condition after risking his life to save his children from drowning in the ocean.
The 36-year-old was rushed to a Florida hospital and is still being treated, but his children are reportedly in safe care.
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Hillis, who played for five separate NFL franchises during his seven-year career, dragged his children out of the water at a Pensacola beach on Friday (AEDT).
He was airlifted to the hospital where he still remains unconscious in the intensive care unit for treatment on his lungs and kidneys, according to TMZ.
His uncle, Greg Hillis, posted an update on his nephew’s health on Facebook, saying his breathing is improving.
“I just wanted to let everyone know on Razorback Nation that Peyton is doing better,” Greg Hillis wrote.
“He’s still in intensive care and having some problems with his kidneys and lungs, but the doctors say he is improving. I just wanted to head off any rumors that may have started.
“I’m sure he would want everyone to know that he appreciates all of the prayers thrown up on his behalf!!!”
Hillis played for the Broncos, Browns, Chiefs, Buccaneers and Giants in his career, which spanned between 2008-2014.
He is best remembered for his 2010 season with the Browns, when he carried the ball 270 times, amassing 1177 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The impressive year saw him feature on the front cover of the Madden ’12 video game.
NFL confirms Bills-Bengals game cancelled
Meanwhile, the current-day NFL has confirmed that it will not resume the Bills-Bengals game that was suspended on Monday night after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on the field.
The league said some of the factors in coming to its decision included that “not playing the Buffalo-Cincinnati game to its conclusion will have no effect on which clubs qualify for the post-season. No club would qualify for the post-season and no club will be eliminated based on the outcome of this game”.
Also, the NFL said playing the game between the Bills and Bengals would have required postponing the start of the play-offs by a week, affecting all 14 teams that qualified for the post-season.
The NFL said its decision creates “potential competitive inequities in certain play-off scenarios”.
The league said clubs on Friday, in a special NFL meeting, would consider a resolution recommended by the commissioner and approved on Thursday by the competition committee.
Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours”, the Bills announced on Thursday, three days after the 24-year-old player had to be resuscitated on the field.
The Bills-Bengals game had major play-off implications for the AFC.
Buffalo (12-3) entered Monday night needing a win to maintain the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) now hold that spot. The Bengals (11-4) had a chance to earn that top seed with two more wins and a loss by the Chiefs.
Determining next steps is an exhaustive process and the league is considering various scenarios.
– With AAP
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