Former NFL star Tim Tebow has been praised by passengers after praying with the family of a man who collapsed on a flight from Atlanta, Georgia, last weekend.

In a Facebook post that has been shared more than 6,000 times, passenger Richard Gotti said he was travelling on a plane to Arizona when there was a medical emergency on board.

Another passenger lost consciousness, and airline staff immediately came to his aid.

"Then all of a sudden, I observed a guy walking down the aisle. That guy was Tim Tebow. He met with the family as they cried on his shoulder!" Gotti said.

"I watched Tim pray with the entire section of the plane for this man. He made a stand for God in a difficult situation."

According to People, Tebow also helped the family of the man with their luggage when the plane landed and waited with them at the hospital, where the individual, in his 60s, later died.

A spokesman for Delta airlines confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that there had been a medical emergency on board the flight. He said that paramedics greeted the plane to ensure the passenger received immediate care.

"We can't say enough about the Delta professionals who care for our customers every day and we are grateful to our customers who are so often quick to extend kindness and care to one another," he added.

Another passenger on the flight, Pamela Rainey, also shared a photo of Tebow and praised his kindness:

Tebow is has not commented publicly on the incident.

A committed Christian, he is well known for his strong faith. In 2010, he set up the Tim Tebow Foundation, a charitable organisation "with a mission to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need".