Hillis rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns in 2010
By Chantz Martin
Following a swimming accident in Florida, former Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis made significant progress in his recovery.
After saving children from drowning earlier this month, Hillis was released from the hospital. He suffered lung and kidney damage as a result of the incident, and his condition was initially deemed critical.
“God has been so good to us,” is all I can say. In a Friday Facebook update, Hayley Davis stated. “Peyton was released from the hospital today,”
Davis added that his health “has all improved— truly a miracle!!”
Hillis, who turned 37 on Saturday, was first admitted to the hospital on Jan. 4 after he was airlifted and placed in the ICU.
On Jan. 11, Hillis’ girlfriend, Angela Cole, shared a positive health report, saying that Hillis had been taken off the ventilator and was “on the road to recovery.” On Friday, she posted a photo with Hillis and his health care providers at Baptist Hospital.
“You not only saved Peyton’s life, you made it a priority to make sure that his family and I were okay amidst your busy schedules,” Cole wrote on Instagram. “You have all became a huge family to me and I know have meant so much to all of us. I can’t express this enough when I say this, thank you for making all the difference in our lives. I’ll never be able to thank you enough!”
Hillis’ sister also revealed that she had jumped into the water in an attempt to help save the children. An ambulance transferred her to the hospital as a result, but she said her primary concern was on Hillis’ condition.
“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.”
Following a breakout season in which he amassed more than 1,000 yards of rushing, Hillis was chosen as the Madden NFL 12 cover athlete. He played for the Browns, Broncos, Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Giants before leaving the NFL in 2015.
