Former NFL running back Peyton Hillis, who was on the cover of the 2012 Madden NFL video game, released a statement this week after being hospitalized last month following a swimming accident, saying that he was thankful for everyone’s love and support as he recovers.

Hillis, 36, was rushed to the hospital in early January in critical condition after he reportedly saved his children from drowning in the ocean. ESPN said that the incident involved two adults and two children.

“I just wanted to come on here and thank everyone for all the prayers and love y’all have given me,” Hillis wrote on social media. “It’s really made all the difference. I also want to thank my brave sister, mother, sister in law, my kids, and my girlfriend who has saved my life in more ways than one. Thank you to the amazing staff at the hospital. Baptist hospital in Pensacola. Y’all were truly amazing and took such great care of me. You made all the difference on my recovery.”

Hillis said that he has not given any media interviews because he wanted to keep his family out of the public since the incident was a “very traumatic” experience for everyone involved.

“But I did want to come on here and show my appreciation for everyone who helped save my life and for all of your prayers and love and support,” he added. “I left the hospital with no worries and concerns and should make a 100% recovery. I’m a very lucky and blessed man. Yahweh has really blessed me and I am very thankful.”

Thank you for all your love and prayers🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/VnrCmKWjlN

— Peyton Hillis (@thepeytonhillis) February 21, 2023

TMZ Sports obtained photos of the incident that showed a helicopter landing on the road to respond to the medical emergency.

Other photos showed Hillis lying on a backboard on the beach surrounded by lifeguards and paramedics. He was then taken to the hospital, according to the report. Photos appeared to show the first responders taking Hillis near an ambulance, but it’s unclear if he was put in the ambulance. The photos did not show Hillis being put on the helicopter.

Hillis was drafted in the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of the University of Arkansas.

The 6’2” 250-pound bruising running back had his breakout season in 2010, amassing more than 1,500 yards of total offense and scoring 13 touchdowns for the Cleveland Browns.

He followed up that season by racking up more than 700 yards of offense and three touchdowns in 2011. He played in 81 games over eight seasons with the Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and the New York Giants.

Hillis retired in 2015.

A video released Wednesday afternoon captured the horrifying moment that a 10-foot alligator exploded out of a Florida pond this week and killed an 85-year-old woman who was walking her dog.

Gloria Serge was walking her small dog around midday on Monday at a community retention pond where she lived at Spanish Lakes Fairways, a community for the elderly, when the incident occurred.

The alligator, which local media said weighed up to 700 pounds, surged out of the water and tried to grab her dog. Serge tried to fight off the alligator, but was knocked over and it grabbed her foot and dragged her into the water.

Video was released that showed the moment that the incident occurred. The video does not show the alligator killing the woman.

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Robert Lilly, a specialist who traps alligators in the state, said that it was difficult for officials to recover the woman’s body and remove the animal from the pond.

“It was definitely a fight. [We] snagged him on the bottom. He never surfaced,” Lilly said. “He stayed down the whole time. We were able to get a second hook in him and a hard line in him so we could get him up.”

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BREAKING… ⁦@MyFWC⁩ on scene at Spanish Lakes Fairways in St. Lucie County capturing gator that may have attacked and killed resident walking their dog. ⁦@WPTV⁩ pic.twitter.com/Bwxgx2xTDH

— Jon Shainman (@JonShainman) February 20, 2023

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that while alligators are still on the federal endangered species list, they can still easily be found all over the state.

“Alligators occur in all 67 counties in Florida and can be found in practically all fresh and brackish water bodies and occasionally in salt water,” the state agency said. “Although exact population figures are not known, Florida has a healthy and stable population of about 1.3 million alligators of every size. This population estimate is based on an estimated 6.7 million acres of suitable habitat.”

It is illegal to feed alligators because feeding them teaches them to associate food with humans and thus causes them to lose their fear of people. Despite their numbers in the state, attacks on people remain relatively rare as they prefer to only attack prey that they can easily overpower.

Fully-grown American alligators can be up to 15 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

There have been fewer than 450 recorded alligator attacks in Florida since 1948, with a couple dozen resulting in death.

American Alligators, while dangerous, pose less risk to humans than large crocodiles like the Nile Crocodile in Africa and the Saltwater Crocodile found in Asia and Australia.

Saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species in the world, with full-grown males being able to grow up to 28 feet and weighing roughly 2,500 pounds. They are responsible for killing 1,000 people per year.