Former NFL star Mike Williams has been taken off his life support machine and remains responsive, according to the mother of his daughter.

Fighting for his life

Williams suffered a freak accident while working at a construction site, and local media in Buffalo reported earlier this week that he had died.

But as Tierney Lyle – the mother of Williams’ eight-year-old daughter – told WIVB News 4, the former wide receiver was taken off of his ventilator on Thursday night and is still fighting for his life in a Tampa, Florida hospital.

‘We need prayer warriors to continue praying and spread the word,’ she said.

‘He goes hard in everything he does. He doesn’t give up easily at all.’

The accident

According to WIVB News 4, two people close to Williams say he suffered the accident on August 21, and it was not initially believed to be life-threatening.

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Williams was reportedly hit in the head with a beam while doing electrical work, but the cut eventually became infected.

He was then hospitalized on September 1 and later induced into a coma.

Williams’ father went on to explain that the ex-NFL star suffered swelling on his brain and spinal cord, as well as complete paralysis in his right arm and below the waist.

She said: ‘They were waiting on me and (his daughter). We’re here and still trying to figure it out.

‘He was asleep when we went in there and he woke up when he heard our voices and his daughter’s voice. And he looked around, and he blinked and he was crying but he can’t move.’