Former NFL running back Peyton Hillis, known for his powerful runs and a memorable stint on the Madden cover, faced a life-altering moment off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, earlier this year. In a dramatic swimming accident, Hillis reportedly entered the water to rescue his two children from a rip current, an act of profound bravery that ultimately sent him to the intensive care unit fighting for his own life.
Reports from the time paint a vivid picture of the scene on January 4, 2023. Lifeguards and other medical personnel were captured in photos tending to Hillis on the beach. Emergency services, including a helicopter and two ambulances, arrived, with the helicopter transporting Hillis to a local hospital after it landed on the road nearby. He was reportedly unconscious upon arrival and taken to the ICU.
Initial medical reports following the incident indicated significant concern regarding Hillis’s condition. According to Memphis’ WREG.com, doctors were greatly concerned about his kidneys, and he had reportedly sustained lung damage. Alyssa Orange, an anchor covering the Arkansas Razorbacks, also shared reports confirming that Hillis was on a ventilator and remained unconscious in the ICU in the days immediately following the rescue.
Amidst the uncertainty, updates began to emerge from Hillis’s family. His uncle, Greg Hillis, provided an update on Facebook the Thursday after the incident, addressing concerns and offering a glimmer of hope. “I just wanted to let everyone know on Razorback Nation that Peyton is doing better,” Greg Hillis wrote. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges, adding, “He’s still in intensive care and having some problems with his kidneys and his lungs, but the doctors say he is improving.”
The news of Hillis’s plight resonated deeply within the football community and beyond. The University of Arkansas, where Hillis played his college ball, tweeted support on Friday, stating they were “doing better after his heroic act saving his family.” Former NFL players and current ESPN analysts Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears tweeted their support, noting the reports of Hillis’s kidneys not functioning properly.
An outpouring of support also manifested in Hillis’s native Arkansas. A prayer vigil was held for him at the football stadium at Shiloh Christian on Sunday, offering a collective show of solidarity and hope for his recovery. Chris Ogbonnaya, another former Browns running back, publicly asked for prayers for his old teammate, demonstrating the strong bonds within the NFL family.
A pivotal update arrived the following Wednesday from Hillis’s girlfriend, Angela Cole. Taking to Instagram, Cole shared encouraging news, revealing that Hillis had been taken off a ventilator and was on the road to recovery. She called him a “hero,” expressing immense pride and gratitude. “So proud of this man and so incredibly grateful for family and this incredible hospital,” Cole wrote, acknowledging the critical role of both loved ones and the medical staff.
Cole emphasized that while significant progress had been made, the journey wasn’t over. “Peyton is off the ventilator and is on the road to recovery,” she stated. She implored well-wishers to continue their support, writing, “Please continue to pray for he’s still got a ways ahead of him, but thank you for all of your prayers and love and support thus far. It truly makes all the difference. Today was a good day.” This update provided a turning point in the public understanding of his condition, signaling a step back from the immediate life-threatening crisis.
The incident itself unfolded after Hillis decided to take the kids to the beach following a storm the night before. He recounted this day in an exclusive interview with Michael Strahan on “Good Morning America,” his first public account since the accident. Hillis noted that the morning seemed windy but beautiful, and crucially, he claimed there were “no flags” warning of potential dangers that day.
However, Davis Wood, the public information and education officer of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, clarified that the nearest flag was a mile away. He also stated that the absence of flags doesn’t guarantee safety, advising beachgoers to use their best judgment and emphasizing that only strong swimmers should enter the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the differing accounts on the presence or absence of nearby flags, the danger of rip currents was very real.
Hillis’s mother and sister-in-law later joined him and the children. It was then, tragically, that his son and niece were caught in a rip current. Hillis vividly recalled the moment his mother screamed and pointed out to his son. “I hear my mom screaming and so, I looked at her and she pointed out to my son, and she says, ‘Orry and Camilla are drowning,’” said Hillis, explaining that he didn’t recall seeing lifeguards at that precise moment, though county officials indicated they were patrolling the area.
In that critical instant, Hillis described his immediate reaction. “And so, I didn’t even think, I reacted and started running into the water,” he told Strahan. The powerful instinct of a parent took over, sending him into the dangerous conditions without hesitation to reach the struggling children. This decision highlights the deep protective bond he shares with his family.
He faced an agonizing decision during the rescue. Hillis recounted that the “scariest point” was having to prioritize which child to save first. Despite his son Orry being closer, his 8-year-old niece Camilla was in greater peril. “I think the scariest point … was when I’m swimming to my son and I have to pass by him because my niece is in more danger,” Hillis explained to Strahan, a choice he knew was necessary for her survival.
“I knew that I had to pass him up to get to Camille first. Because, you know, if I didn’t, then there’s no way she would’ve made it,” Hillis stated, articulating the grim calculation he had to make in the moment. He managed to get his niece onto a boogie board and push her towards safety. This act saved her life, but the immediate danger to his son remained.
Returning to where his son Orry was, Hillis found him in a critical state. “He didn’t have any more strength in him to swim and I’m sitting there holding him,” Hillis recalled. He described battling 10 to 12-foot waves while trying to keep his 130-lb son afloat, watching his son’s eyes roll back. The physical and emotional toll of the rescue was immense, pushing him to his absolute limit.
In that desperate struggle, Hillis recounted a powerful moment of faith. “You can’t swim and you’re holding him, you’re seeing his eyes roll back in the back of his head,” he said. Faced with overwhelming circumstances, he turned to prayer. “Lord, please. Like, I really don’t care about my life. I don’t. But if we can get him out of here, that’s the only thing I’m going to care about.” This heartfelt plea underscored the depth of his paternal love.
Eventually, through sheer determination, Hillis managed to get close enough to the shore to walk his son the rest of the way to the beach. However, the effort proved too much. When they were approximately 20 to 30 yards from the beach, Hillis said he lost consciousness. This was the point where he began experiencing the severe lung and kidney failure that would necessitate his hospitalization.
Both children, thankfully, were not physically harmed as a result of the incident. Hillis was airlifted to Pensacola’s Baptist Hospital, where he was sedated and placed on a ventilator, remaining unconscious for about 10 days. He described the experience of being under sedation but able to hear. “When I was under, I remembered I could hear everything perfectly clear, but they didn’t know that I could,” he said.
He shared a particularly harrowing memory from this time. “I don’t know it was like day nine or ten into it, and I overheard them saying, ‘you know if he doesn’t wake up here soon, you know I don’t know what is going to happen,’” Hillis recalled, explaining that he was internally panicking but completely unable to move his body. This demonstrates the severity of his condition and the uncertainty faced by the medical team.
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When he finally regained consciousness after the roughly ten-day period, he spent two weeks recovering in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Hillis recounted the first thing he remembered upon waking. “First thing I remember is my mom, my daughter, and my sister standing around me,” he told Strahan. He was amazed by their calm demeanor. “To their credit, I mean, they all act like everything was normal, everything was fine, which calmed me down,” he said, while also noting his own physical state: “I couldn’t move. I mean, I couldn’t move my body.”
The recovery journey has been lengthy and continues even months after the January incident. Doctors initially projected that he would not make a full recovery for about a year. Hillis himself has been candid about the ongoing challenges, both physical and mental. “I don’t think my lungs will ever get back to where they needed to be,” he admitted, reflecting on the lasting impact of the damage.
Physically, he feels things are progressing adequately. “Physically, it’s comin’ along okay,” he assessed. However, he acknowledged that the mental recovery is a slower process. “Mentally things are coming along a lot slower. I’m just tryin’ to take it one day at a time,” he shared, highlighting the often-underestimated psychological toll of such a traumatic event.
The incident has profoundly impacted his perspective on life. Experiencing such a near-death event, he said, “makes you realize what’s really important.” This newfound clarity has reinforced the value he places on relationships. “If you’re not here for your loved ones, or your family, or your friends, why are you here?” he posed, summarizing his core belief.
Hillis’s actions have been widely hailed as heroic. However, when asked about this label, he offered a humble and poignant response. “I call myself a dad,” he stated when Strahan asked what he would call himself if not a hero. This simple statement encapsulates his motivation and the role he values above all others.
He also hopes his experience serves as a cautionary tale for others. Hillis warned others to “respect the water” and remember to “always be aware of your surroundings.” He stressed the importance of caution, particularly regarding children. “It’s very dangerous to just let your kids go out there and swim, especially without life jackets,” he advised, sharing a vital lesson learned from his ordeal.
Hillis had a notable NFL career spanning seven seasons. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft after playing college ball at the University of Arkansas, he spent two seasons in Denver. He then had stints with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants before retiring in 2015 after being released by the Giants in the 2015 offseason.
He is particularly well-remembered for his time with the Cleveland Browns. In 2010, his breakout season, he totaled more than 1,500 all-purpose yards and scored 13 touchdowns, and followed up with 717 yards and three touchdowns in 2011. His popularity during this period led to him famously appearing on the cover of the Madden ’12 video game after winning a fan vote.
During his four years at the University of Arkansas, Hillis showcased his versatility, totaling 960 rushing yards and 1,197 receiving yards while scoring 23 touchdowns. This college foundation laid the groundwork for his professional career, where he was utilized in various capacities.
Beyond football, Hillis has also tried his hand at acting. He appeared in the horror film *The Hunting* in 2021, which was filmed in Mantua, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. It was on the set of this film that he co-starred with Angela Cole, with whom he is now in a relationship. Cole first went public with their relationship in a Facebook post on July 6, 2022. Hillis shares his two children, a son named Orry and a younger daughter, with his ex-wife, Amanda Hillis, from whom he reportedly divorced in April 2022, though another part of the context states the divorce was in 2020.
The swimming accident highlighted the unpredictable power of nature and the depth of human courage. That day in Pensacola, what began as a simple beach outing turned into a desperate fight for survival, showcasing Hillis’s unwavering commitment to his children’s safety. Despite the physical and mental toll, his focus remains squarely on family and appreciating the miracle that he and his children survived.
Reflecting on the events, Hillis stated, “It is 100% a miracle that somebody didn’t die.” This sentiment underscores the gravity of the situation and the fortunate outcome. The road to full recovery may still be long, marked by continued physical and mental healing, but the most important outcome has been secured: the safety of his children and his own improbable survival. It’s a story not just of athletic fame, but of a father’s love tested in the most challenging circumstances, a powerful reminder of what truly matters when facing life’s most dangerous currents.
