Coleman’s heroic act of rescuing his parents from a house fire in Ohio this week has deeply touched many, including his daughter, Morgan Coleman, who shared the harrowing experience on social media. In an emotional video posted to Mark Coleman’s Instagram on Thursday, he expressed gratitude for his parents’ survival amidst the ordeal.
“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.”
Morgan Coleman recounted how her father bravely entered the burning house multiple times to rescue his mother and father, risking his own life in the process. She revealed that despite his heroic efforts, her father, aged 59, was left battling for his life following the incident.
Sadly, Coleman was unable to save their beloved dog, Hammer, from the fire. “I got them (his parents) but couldn’t find Hammer,” Coleman shared in the video.
Photos shared by UFC writer Jonathan Snowden depicted the extensive damage caused by the fire to the Coleman family home.
Coleman, hailing from Fremont, Ohio, made a name for himself as the UFC’s first heavyweight champion in 1997, defeating Dan Severn. Over his 14-year career, he won 16 out of 26 fights and earned induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.
Before his successful Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) career, Coleman excelled as an amateur wrestler, clinching an NCAA title at Ohio State in 1988 and representing the United States at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Another of Coleman’s daughters, Kenzie, shared on Instagram that Hammer’s barking alerted her father to the danger, potentially saving lives.
In response to the overwhelming support, Morgan Coleman initiated a gofundme.com campaign to aid her father’s recovery, which has garnered over $70,000 in donations as of Thursday afternoon.
