Former UFC fighter Mark Coleman is said to be in an induced coma and ‘fighting for his life’ after dramatically rescuing his elderly parents from a viscous house fire.
It has been reported that the fire broke out at Coleman’s home in Toledo, Ohio, in the early hours of the morning. Coleman was woken by his dog, Hammer, barking.
As the fire took hold, Coleman managed to rescue his father and mother from the building. He also returned to the burning building to try and rescue Hammer but was beaten back by flames.
Once out of he building, Coleman then collapsed due to the effects of smoke inhalation, according to NBC News. However, his mother and father were not seriously injured.
Coleman – a UFC Hall of Famer – was then taken to hospital via helicopter, where he is “fighting for his life” according to a social media post by his daughter, Morgan Coleman.
A picture circulating on social media shows Coleman in hospital, hooked up to a ventilator.
Pictures posted on X (formerly Twitter) by MMA-focused author and journalist Jonathan Snowden show that little was left of the house – the ceiling had collapsed, and the building looked completely gutted by the flames.
Coleman’s mother, Connie, later posted on Facebook, thanking the firefighters, sheriffs department and EMS Red Cross, adding “Prayers for Mark!”
Coleman, aged 59, was nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ during his UFC and professional wrestling career, which ran from 1996 to 2010. He was an early star of UFC and became the first UFC Heavyweight Champion in February 1997. He also appeared in the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan.
Mark Coleman saved both his parents from a raging house fire, then went back in for the dog. He had to be lifeflighted to the hospital.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 12, 2024
If anyone can beat back death itself, it's Mark.
We were close to doing a book and it would have been a fascinating ride. A big, badass life. pic.twitter.com/Ll7ILAP995
