Peyton Hillis is reportedly "unconscious" and being treated in an intensive care unit after rushing to save his children in Florida. His condition is said to be "critical".

As reported by the Daily Mail, the 36-year-old former running back for the Cleveland Browns was airlifted to hospital after saving his children from drowning in the ocean following a swimming accident in Pensacola, Florida.

TMZ adds that the former NFL star is receiving treatment on his lungs and kidneys.

Fortunately, Hillis' children are said to be safe and in good health.

Hillis' uncle, Greg Hillis, has since penned a Facebook post providing an update on his nephew.

"I just wanted to let everyone know on Razorback Nation that Peyton is doing better," uncle Greg writes. "He’s still in intensive care and having some problems with his kidneys and his lungs but doctors say he is improving.

"I just wanted to head off any rumors that may be started. I’m sure he would want everyone to know that he appreciates all of the prayers being thrown up on his behalf!!!"

Hillis - a four-year player at the University of Arkansas - kicked off his professional career after being drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

After being traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2010, Hillis would became a breakout star for the team after rushing for 1,177 yards on 270 carries and scoring 11 touchdowns that year.

Hillis would then go on to be announced as the cover athlete for the Madden NFL 12 video game.

Since then, he signed with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Giants, before his eventual retirement in 2015.

The Bleacher Report states that doctors had urged Hillis to retire after the young star suffered concussions at the end of his last two seasons.

"And after a while, it got too hard," Hillis said at the time. "I didn't care as much anymore, I didn't care to work at it. Football brought me down.

"I still love the game and I still have a lot of friends in the game, but as far as NFL football goes, my heart's just not in it anymore."

Of course, the devastating news about Hillis comes the same week the NFL world was rocked by the shocking collapse of 24-year-old Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin.

Hamlin collapsed on the field following what appeared to be a routine tackle. It has been reported that Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and has spent the last few days in the ICU. Fortunately, his fans were greeted with some good news yesterday after it was announced that he was "awake" and communicating with family members.

We wish both Hillis and Hamlin the very best on their respective recovery journeys.

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The two-year-old daughter of an NFL star has tragically passed away after drowning in the family swimming pool.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett's daughter, Arrayah, sadly died on Sunday (April 30) morning, with the team issuing a statement about her death on social media.

"Today's tragic news is heartbreaking for all members of the Buccaneers family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shaq, Jordanna, and the entire Barrett family during this unimaginably difficult time," the Buccaneers wrote.

"While no words can provide true comfort at a time such as this, we offer our support and love as they begin to process this very profound loss of their beloved Arrayah," they added.

As reported by The New York Post, police officers responded to an emergency call about a child falling into a pool on Sunday around 9:30 AM.

The young girl was then transported to a nearby hospital, but even with lifesaving measures, she was heartbreakingly pronounced dead a short time after arrival

Law enforcement is currently investigating Arrayah's death, but it is believed to be a tragic incident, according to a Tampa Bay Times.

After hearing the tragic news, many football teams and industry professionals sent their heartfelt condolences to the 30-year-old's family.

San Francisco 49ers wrote: "Sending our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences to the Barrett family," while NFL Insider Field Yates penned: "Thinking of the Barrett family during this heartbreaking time."

Barrett's former team, the Denver Broncos, published a statement on Twitter that read: "#BroncosCountry is with you, Shaq & the entire Barrett family."

Arrayah was the youngest of the four children the footballer shared with his wife Jordanna.

The athlete initially entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2014. He signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers ahead of the 2019 season and had a career year with a league-leading 19.5 sacks.

He is a two-time Pro Bowler who guided the league in sacks in 2019 and also triumphed in two Super Bowls, one with Tampa Bay and one with his former team, the Denver Broncos.

During the 2022 season, Barrett, unfortunately, suffered a torn Achilles in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, cutting his campaign short. He ended the season with 31 tackles and three sacks.

Our thoughts are with Barrett's family and friends at this devastating time.

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Damar Hamlin has reportedly opened his eyes after several days in intensive care - and even managed to pen a three-word note to medical staff.

The good news was revealed during a press conference held on Thursday (January 5) by Dr. Timothy Pritts, a trauma surgeon at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin was transported to following his shock collapse on the field.

The 24-year-old had fallen flat on his back in cardiac arrest following what appeared to be a routine tackle, with the NFL suspending the game indefinitely.

The NFL has since announced that the game has been ruled a 'no contest', with the Bills and Bengals playing one less game than the rest of the league.

According to Dr. Pritts, the young NFL star - still breathing with the aid of a ventilator - wrote on a note: "Did we win?"

Medical staff were said to have replied: "Yes, Damar, you won. You've won the game of life."

As Pritts confidently stated in the press conference: "Not only are the lights on, but he's home [...] He continues to be critically ill and undergo care in the ICU. He still has significant progress he needs to make. This marks a turning point in his ongoing care."

During a separate press conference with the NFL Players Association, medical director Dr. Thom Mayer stated, via the Los Angeles Times: "While there's a long way to go, all signs are optimistic, and point to what is likely to be a full neurologic recovery, and we've got to get there, but so far things have been very, very positive."

Mayer continued: "It is unusual and quite unique. The good news is that if that continues to be the presumptive working diagnosis, that is so exceedingly rare that someone who had it would not be at risk for the future. If that indeed turns out to be the bottom line diagnosis, then there's been 24,000 men who have played this game in the National Football League and this has never happened before, so it would be one in 24,000 instances."

Bengals' wide receiver Tee Higgins - who had tackled Hamlin prior to his cardiac arrest - told reporters this week that the news of Hamlin's three-word note "made him smile."

As previously reported, medical experts have said that Hamlin's condition appears typical of commotio cordis, a phenomenon whereby sudden blunt trauma to the chest can cause the heart and blood flow to stop, often resulting in death.

Since his distressing injury, Hamlin's annual community toy drive has raised just shy of $7.8 million. The drive was started by the sports star in 2020 as a way for him to give back to his local community, delivering Christmas gifts to the children who were hit the hardest by the pandemic. His initial GoFundMe goal stood at just $2,500.

"As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me," Hamlin had written in the fundraiser's description.

Hopefully those three words written by Hamlin this week have given us all renewed hope in the wake of such a devastating situation.

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Floribama Shore star Kirk Medas is in critical condition in the hospital, and his loved ones have asked for prayers.

Medas, who appeared on the hit series from 2017 to 2021, was diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis, a severe and potentially life-threatening condition.

He’s been on a ventilator in intensive care since April 18, according to emotional updates shared by co-stars Nilsa Prowant and Aimee Elizabeth Hall.

“The situation is incredibly serious,” Hall wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post on May 1, alongside a photo of Medas unconscious in his hospital bed, hooked up to life support.

The post also included throwback snaps of the Floribama Shore gang during better times.

“He is sedated and this could take some time to heal. We are praying that he has a full recovery but this process could take some time,” added Prowant, who has been traveling “back and forth to Miami” to stay close to her longtime friend.

“I did fly down there and see him,” she shared during an Instagram reel. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Adding to the heartbreak, Hall revealed that Medas does not have medical insurance — and the mounting medical expenses have left his family scrambling. “His sweet, strong mother has created a GoFundMe to help with the overwhelming expenses,” Hall said.

She urged fans to send support however they can: “Please pray for Kirk. Pray for his mother. Pray for his friends. And pray for his castmates - we’re all hurting watching our brother fight this battle.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, necrotizing pancreatitis is a serious complication of acute pancreatitis where parts of the pancreas begin to die. The condition can lead to both short-term and long-term complications, and recovery can be long and difficult.

Medas’ journey to reality TV fame was as unexpected as it was endearing. In a 2017 interview with The Post, he explained how a friend's nerves ended up landing him in front of MTV cameras instead.

“My buddy called me and was like, ‘I’m getting interviewed for this TV show, I’m nervous and I need some comfort.’ So I went over to his house and they [the producers] ended up meeting me and they asked if they could interview me,” Medas said. “I ended up making the cut, but I felt bad because [my friend] didn’t.”

Alongside Hall, Prowant, Gus Smyrnios, Jeremiah Buoni, Candace Rice, Codi Butts, and Kortni Gilson, Medas brought laughs, loyalty, and plenty of unforgettable moments to Floribama Shore, MTV’s spiritual follow-up to Jersey Shore.

After his run on the series, Medas went on to make appearances in Fear Factor and Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘n Out.

Before his hospitalization, the 30-something had been open about turning over a new leaf, often sharing personal reflections on social media about his journey toward better physical and spiritual health.

“Lost a lot the past year but stayed resilient through it all,” Medas wrote in a March Instagram reel.

“Mind, body, spirit. Changing my lifestyle completely was the start. Putting down the bottle and picking up the Bible was the best thing I [had] ever done. My only regret is not making such changes earlier on in life.”

A GoFundMe page started for Medas has raised over $18,000 at the time of writing.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe

In just one week, Damar Hamlin went from fears for his survival to being discharged from hospital in Cincinnati, following a traumatic on-field cardiac arrest last Monday (January 2).

The Buffalo Bills safety had undertaken a routine tackle during his team's Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, when Hamlin stood up from the tackle against Bengals' wide receiver Tee Higgins, he began swaying, before eventually collapsing to the ground.

As previously reported, ambulances rushed to the scene and were on the field administering CPR to the 24-year-old within just five minutes. Players and coaches from both teams knelt around Hamlin, praying for his recovery. It was an emotional evening, with coaches, teammates, reporters, and fans fighting back tears for the NFL star.

He had required CPR on the field as well as for a second time in hospital, before being stabilized and having his breathing supported mechanically.

Shortly following the incident, Hamlin's family released a statement thanking the speedy medical professionals who came to his aid, writing: "On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.

"We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they've done. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them," the statement concluded, per ESPN.

The evening after, Hamlin's uncle Dorrian Glenn told The Daily Mail reporters outside the hospital that his nephew's ventilator had been reduced from 100% to 50%, saying: "Right now they're just trying to get him to breathe better. Right now he's on a ventilator just to help with the breathing.

"He's got a bit of lung damage from yesterday, but he was at 100 percent on the ventilator helping him breathe, but now he's at 50 percent, so that's a good thing. Like I said, we're just going to take it day by day. I'm grateful for all the prayers and support."

Fortunately, the news on Hamlin's condition has only become more positive, after it was revealed just hours ago that he was discharged from hospital in Cincinnati - exactly one week after his terrifying collapse. The young star took to Twitter to share the news and express his gratitude for all the support he received in the past week.

"Headed home to Buffalo today with a lot of love on my heart [...] Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling. The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more. Bigger than football! [sic]", he wrote.

After arriving in Buffalo, it was revealed that Hamlin has checked into Buffalo General to continue treatment, as he wrote: "Grateful for the awesome care I received at UCMC. Happy to be back in Buffalo. The docs and nurses at Buffalo General have already made me feel at home!"

Everything seems to be headed in the right direction for Hamlin - and our thoughts are with him as he continues with his recovery.

Featured image credit: Kirby Lee / Alamy