sport news Peyton Hillis: NFL legend Emmitt Smith pays a visit to ex-Browns star in ... trends now

Three-time Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith has shared the first image of Peyton Hillis in his hospital bed after visiting him during his recovery this week.

Hillis, himself a former NFL running back, reportedly rescued his two children from drowning at a Pensacola beach in Florida on January 4, but was airlifted to a local hospital with lung and kidney damage as a result.

Doctors expressed concern about his kidneys earlier this week, as reported by Memphis' WREG.com, but he has since been taken off his ventilator and is 'on the road to recovery', according to his girlfriend Angela Cole.

Fans have since been treated to a smiling photograph of the 36-year-old, as he lies in bed with NFL legend Smith sitting beside him.

The photo was captioned: 'I had the opportunity to visit a recovering hero this week #PeytonHillis. Praying for his healing.'

In the snap, Hillis can be seen with various tubes in his arms and a blood pressure monitor on his finger, but appears to now be breathing on his own without the help of any machinery.

Hillis' partner Cole has been by his side throughout his recovery, and gave a public, and positive, update regarding his progress last week.

Alongside a reel of the pair, who have been a couple for close to two years, she wrote on her Instagram profile: 'A hero. So proud of this man and so incredibly grateful for family and this incredible hospital.

'Peyton is off the ventilator and is on the road to recovery. Please continue to pray for, he's still got a way ahead of him, but thank you for all your prayers and love and support thus far.