Mark Coleman: Former UFC star ‘battling for his life’ after saving parents from house fire

cnn
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Former UFC star Mark Coleman is “fighting for his life” after saving his parents from a house fire in Ohio on Tuesday, his daughter said. said on Instagram.

Morgan Coleman wrote that her father went back and forth inside the house and was able to pull both of her parents from the fire and save their lives, before attempting to rescue a dog, Hammer, from the fire.

CNN has reached out to Toledo Police, the Fire Department and Coleman’s manager for more details about the house fire and the former UFC fighter’s condition.

Morgan said the former MMA star was airlifted to a hospital where he is “currently fighting for his life following this heroic act.” She also said Hammer passed away despite Coleman’s best efforts.

“Our father has always been our hero and means a lot to us. “He is and always will be a fighter,” Coleman’s daughter wrote. “The strongest [and] The bravest man I know. Please continue to pray for him and our family during this extremely difficult time.”

Coleman’s other daughter, Kenzie, said on her Instagram Stories that Hammer saved the 59-year-old’s life by barking to wake him up.

MMA writer Jonathan Snowden, who said he was close to producing a book with Coleman, posted a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, of Coleman on a ventilator in a hospital.

“If anyone can defeat death itself, it’s Mark,” Snowden wrote.

Wes Sims, Coleman’s old friend and former UFC fighter said on facebook that Coleman is “currently intubated and sedated” at a hospital in Toledo, Ohio.

“I swear to GOD, he’s one of the toughest people ever created. He’s been through so many movies I couldn’t give his life’s work justice right now!” Sims said.

Coleman’s mother, Connie, posted on facebooksaying “Thank God we are alive” and asking for “prayers for Mark.”

Coleman is seen as one of the most influential fighters in UFC history, becoming the first UFC heavyweight champion.

He retired with a 16-10 record and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.

Before turning to MMA, Coleman impressed as an amateur wrestler, winning an NCAA championship at Ohio State in 1988 and competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, ​​Spain.