TMZ Sports has obtained pictures of the scene following Peyton Hillis' swimming accident ... showing lifeguards and medical professionals tending to the former running back on the beach while waiting for additional help to arrive.
A helicopter and two ambulances rushed to the scene Wednesday ... with the chopper landing in the middle of the road before flying Hillis to the local hospital.
Peyton Hillis, the former Cleveland Browns star who was on the cover of the Madden 12 video game, was hospitalized after a swimming accident where he saved his kids from drowning.
Peyton remains in the intensive care unit for treatment on his lungs and kidneys, but doctors say his health is improving, according to his uncle.
Meanwhile, Peyton's kids are said to be safe and healthy.
Hillis was in Pensacola, FL when the accident happened, according to reporter Alyssa Orange, who says he was helicoptered to the hospital and remains unconscious in the ICU.
Retired NFL running back Peyton Hillis remains hospitalized after a swimming accident in Florida, where emergency responders airlifted the former Cleveland Browns star from a Pensacola beach, as seen in newly surfaced photographs.
The 36-year-old Hillis reportedly saved both his children from potentially drowning, but ended up in intensive care for treatment on his lungs and kidneys as a result. Both children – Hillis' son, Orry, and his younger daughter – are safe and neither needed to be hospitalized.
Peyton was on the Madden cover after a breakout season in 2010 and another good year in 2011 with the Browns. Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards to go with 477 receiving yards as a running back in 2010 and scored 13 total touchdowns. He followed with 717 total yards and 3 TDs in 2011 and then made it on the Madden 12 cover, being voted in by the fans.
What a remarkable dad doing the ultimate sacrifice for his kids and praying he gets better and be there again for his kids,' wrote one Twitter user.
'Many kids think of their dad as their hero, but Peyton Hillis' kids can now literally say their dad saved their life,' added another.
Hillis was reportedly unconscious on Wednesday after being airlifted to a local hospital, where his breathing is now 'improving' in the intensive care unit, according to an update.
A man identified as Hillis' uncle revealed the update in a Facebook post on Thursday night, adding that his nephew was having trouble with his lungs and kidneys.
'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 his lungs but the doctors say he is improving.'
A Browns spokesperson declined to comment, saying the team was waiting for news of Hillis' condition to be confirmed before doing so.
Hillis former agent, Kennard McGuire, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Chris Ogbonnaya, another former Browns running back, asked fans on Twitter to pray for his old teammate: 'Please keep former teammate Peyton Hillis in your thoughts and prayers.'
Many online reactions praised Hillis as a good father and likeable man. One podcaster was particularly fond of his times with Hillis.
'Peyton Hillis is a super good dude,' tweeted a podcaster known as Sir Yacht. 'An absolute goofball and I mean that in the best way possible. He is a hero for saving his kids from drowning today. I'm praying hard for him and I hope he has a safe and fast recovery.'
'Guy saved his kids from drowning and is now hospitalized,' wrote one Twitter user. 'Speedy recovery for a dad putting his children above all, some people don't always.'
The former Browns star had been trying his hand at acting in recent years and appeared in the horror film, The Hunting, in 2021.
He co-starred with actress Angela Cole in that film, and the two are now dating.
The film was a sort of homecoming for Hillis, as it was filmed in the Cleveland suburb of Mantua, Ohio.
Cole first went public with their relationship in a Facebook post on July 6, 2022.
Cole wrote: 'I don't care what they say about ya, Peyt. I think you're pretty great. Sometimes there's someone that comes into your life and changes everything. I'm so incredibly grateful for you.'
Hillis appeared to confirm the relationship on his unverified Instagram page in August.
He said: 'I mean the Bahamas was beautiful… but she's just' before adding several emojis with hearts in them.'
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