What happened to Ronnie Coleman? Former bodybuilder expresses gratitude to his daughter for saving his life during medical emergency
-
Ronnie Coleman (Photo: Instagram/@ronniecoleman8)Bodybuilding star Ronnie Coleman credited his daughter for saving his life during his recent medical emergency. Taking to his Instagram on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Coleman noted that the past few weeks had been "some of the toughest of (his) life."
The post comes two weeks after his family informed fans that he had been hospitalized "due to a serious medical condition." In the post, the bodybuilder explained he had "sepsis," adding:
"Your boy was hit with sepsis and it nearly killed me. Had it not been for my 13-year-old daughter, I probably would have."
According to Cleveland Clinic, sepsis occurs when the body's immune system has an extreme reaction to an infection. Generally, when one has an infection, the immune system tries to fight it. But sometimes it instead starts damaging normal tissues, causing inflammation throughout the body. Sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death.
"I'm still here because the grace of God still wants me to be here" - Ronnie Coleman about his recovery
In his Instagram update, Ronnie Coleman explained that he had faced "many battles" in life but none "like this." He added:
"I'm still here because the grace of God still wants me to be here and the support I get from all of y'all that all helps out a whole whole lot."
The bodybuilder revealed that his experience taught him that like him, many were unaware about the condition. Ronnie Coleman added that he felt responsible to use his platform to spread awareness about sepsis, which he described as a "silent killer."
On June 29, the eight-time Mr. Olympia informed his followers that he would miss his U.K. appearance due to a "medical emergency." Further, Ronnie Coleman noted he was receiving the "best care." In a separate post, his family explained the bodybuilder had been hospitalized due to a "serious medical condition." However, they did not provie additional details.
A day later, his family informed followers that he had been "transferred to a specialized medical facility." The message explained that Coleman was being treated for an "infection in his bloodstream," adding:
"While his condition remains complex, there have been encouraging signs of progress, and his medical team is working around the clock to support his recovery."
Subsequent posts noted that Ronnie Coleman was awake and fully conscious. Additionally, he would undergo "two advanced diagnostic procedures" to help determine the source of the infection.
On July 6, a post notified fans that doctors had managed the infection. But it elaborated that the medical team found an underlying health matter that would need a surgery. A later update (July 10) explained that the surgery, a minimally invasive heart procedure, was a success. The post added: "We're deeply grateful for the unwavering support and positivity you've shown. Inspired by that strength, we're pledging to help shine a brighter light on the condition that nearly took Ronnie's life: sepsis."
Notably, they started the RONNIE STRONG campaign to support the bodybuilder's recovery and raise awareness about the condition. A portion of proceeds would be donated to Sepsis Alliance.
TOPICS: Ronnie Coleman