UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman is the “happiest man alive” after waking up from the medically induced coma he was put in after saving his parents from a house fire.
Coleman, 59, made the announcement in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, in which the ex-fighter’s daughters, Morgan and Kenzie, were seen greeting him after he emerged from a coma.
The caption of the video said: “Update: This is Kenzie. God is good. Miracles happen. Our dad is breathing on his own. We want to thank you all for your love and support from the bottom of our hearts,”
Coleman said in the video, “I’m the luckiest man in the world.” He continued: “God, I’m so happy. I can’t believe my parents are alive.”
Coleman’s daughters confirmed Tuesday morning that their father was hospitalized after he rescued his parents, Dan and Connie Foos Coleman, from the fire. Dan and Connie were trapped in a burning house when Mark went into the house to pull them to safety.
Mark Coleman.
Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty
UFC fighter Mark Coleman hospitalized after saving his parents from a house fire
He also returned to the home and tried to rescue his dog, Hammer, but the dog did not survive, authorities said.
In a video shared on Thursday, Coleman said: “I had to make a decision, because I walked out of my room and went to the door and everything was horrible. I couldn’t breathe, I almost had to walk out, and I went back in and got them , I can not believe it.”
Breaking down in tears, Coleman said he “couldn’t find Hammer.”
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Mark Coleman.
Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty
According to TMZ, the roof of the home collapsed shortly after firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire. Coleman was airlifted to a local hospital, his daughters and friend Wes Sims confirmed in separate social media posts.
His daughter Morgan released additional details in an Instagram post. “He managed to get both parents out of the house, but despite all his efforts he was unable to save Hammer. After this heroic act he was taken to the hospital for life where he is currently fighting for his life,” Morgan wrote in the caption alongside a throwback photo of her, her father and her sister Kenzie.
“Our father was always our hero and meant the world to us. He is and always will be a fighter. The strongest and bravest man I know,” she continued. “Please continue to pray for him and our family at this extremely difficult time. We will miss our sweet hammer very much.”
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The UFC legend, known as the “Godfather of ground-and-pound,” first entered the mixed martial arts (MMA) arena in 1996.
He then became the heavyweight champion at UFC 10 and repeated as champion at UFC 11. He was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He officially retired from MMA in 2013, ESPN reported. After retiring, he suffered a heart attack in 2020, MMA Fighting Newswire reported.
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