UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was awake and responsive Thursday in a Toledo, Ohio, hospital after surviving a house fire earlier this week.
In a video posted to Instagram, Coleman, 59, embraced his two daughters and said he was the "happiest man in the world."
Coleman rescued his parents from a fire at his childhood home in Ohio on Tuesday morning, according to his family. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was airlifted to the hospital. Coleman's dog, Hammer, died in the fire.
"I'm so lucky," Coleman said in the video. "I can't believe my parents are alive. I had to make a decision, because 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. I went back in and got them. I can't believe it."
Great news to start the day.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 14, 2024
Per his Facebook page, Mark Coleman is responsive, talking and laughing with his family.
Mark says "I'm the happiest man in the world!", as he recalls saving his parents lives.
(h/t @JMurrayMMA) pic.twitter.com/qgG9s2XKrt
Coleman's daughter, Kenzie, said the former fighter was breathing on his own but that "we still have a long road ahead of us."
Coleman's family organized a GoFundMe campaign to help fund his recovery. It had raised more than $70,000 USD as of Thursday afternoon.
Coleman is considered a pioneer in mixed martial arts. The Fremont, Ohio, native made his debut at UFC 10 in 1996 and was the inaugural heavyweight champion. Coleman was inducted into the promotion's Hall of Fame in 2008.
