Back in 2014, when Matt Coleman was a 28-year-old sniper serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF), he suffered from a heart attack caused by blockages in his arteries. The left side of his heart was only functioning at 60%, and the right side was only functioning at 10% capacity.
Coleman's doctors tried to reopen his arteries, but said there was a blockage they simply couldn't remove at that stage. It was a condition they knew could likely cause Coleman to suffer from a second heart attack in the future.
Given Coleman's prognosis, the RAF had no choice but to discharge him. "I was devastated, I was going to spend my entire life in the military," Coleman said. "I'm still coming to terms with it now really, it's not one of those things you just progress out of – it's still completely a part of me now."
When Coleman returned home to recover, he had the incredible fortune of meeting the woman who would later become his girlfriend and fiancée. With Krissma Samworth's support, Coleman gradually acclimated to life at home and turned to weight lifting to help channel his energy. During one of these sessions, one of Coleman's gym buddies suggested that he consider becoming a strongman.
It would be a way for Coleman to redirect his energy and create a new goal for himself to accomplish. Coleman latched onto the idea and threw himself eagerly into training.
Later that coming year, Coleman and Samworth traveled to Bali for vacation, where Coleman proposed to his girlfriend. But the couple's bliss didn't last long.
Only three days later, Coleman was overtaken by his doctor's predicted, second heart attack.
Coleman spent the next ten days in the hospital, recovering from his heart attack and having doctors insert another stent into his artery, effectively removing the remainder of the blockage.
Now, though fully recovered, Coleman must take medication for the rest of his life to avoid suffering from another heart attack. He, however, refuses to give up on his dream of becoming a strongman.
While friends and family have expressed their concerns for his health, Coleman's doctors have done nothing to stop him. In fact, Coleman's sister, who is also a doctor, has even encouraged her brother to pursue this goal.
Coleman is "one of these people that won't stop if there is an obstacle put in front of [him] and there isn't a way to get round it. You find a way around something if you want it enough. You have to keep going and don't let anything beat you, because if it does you'll just end up stagnant."
All of Coleman's doctors recognize this spirit and resilience in him. They understand that Coleman so desires this accomplishment, he will stop at nothing, and also risk nothing, to feel this sense of achievement once more.
