UFC Hall of Famer and former champion Mark Coleman described himself as “the happiest man in the world” while surrounded by his family in a hospital bed. Coleman was airlifted to a hospital on Wednesday after rescuing his parents from a house fire in Ohio, as reported by his daughter, Morgan Coleman. A heartfelt video was shared on Mark Coleman’s Instagram on Thursday, showcasing the emotional moment.
“I swear to God, I’m so lucky,” Coleman said in the video. “I can’t believe my parents are alive. I had to make a decision. I got out of my room and went to the door and it was already horrible. I couldn’t breathe. I almost had to go outside, but I went back and got them. I can’t believe it.”
According to Morgan Coleman, her father went into the burning house multiple times and successfully rescued both his mother and father. She added that her father, aged 59, was “battling for his life after this heroic act.”
Regrettably, he was unable to save his dog, Hammer, from the fire.
“I got them (his parents) but couldn’t find Hammer,” Coleman shared in the video.
A post shared by UFC writer Jonathan Snowden showed significant damage to the house.
Originally from Fremont, Ohio, Coleman became the UFC’s first heavyweight champion in 1997 after defeating Dan Severn. Throughout his 14-year career, he won 16 out of 26 fights and was eventually inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.
Before embarking on his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) journey, Coleman excelled as an amateur wrestler, securing an NCAA title at Ohio State in 1988 and representing the United States at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Kenzie, another of Coleman’s daughters, shared on Instagram that Hammer alerted her father by barking, ultimately aiding in his awakening.
In a show of support, Morgan Coleman has set up a gofundme.com page for her father, which has garnered over $70,000 in donations as of Thursday afternoon.