Team Leader (South)

Mark Colman

Mark served in the Royal Engineers from 1984 and left in 1994 after serving in the Gulf War and on many other tours both operational and non operational. On leaving the army, Mark trained to become a commercial diver working both in the UK and internationally.

After a tragic accident whilst diving (see Mark's Testimony) Mark never dived again and trained in Close Protection where he worked as a bodyguard to some very high profile individuals.

Mark first came in contact with VIA after watching what they were doing on their facebook pages and plucked up the courage to contact them after his suffering some problems.

Mark first got involved in the South Fundraising Team and has put a tremendous amount of effort in since becoming involved.

He has now progressed to become the Team Leader for the South and has completed several courses including VIA Foundation Communications Course, White Water Rafting Guide Course, White Water Rescue Technician Course and a 2 Star Level Canoe Course.

Mark will be training towards becoming a canoe instructor within VIA so that he can then help others coming through in skills training and to organise and run canoe expeditions alongside Gary McGregor.

In 2012, Mark has set himself an unbelievable challenge which is to attempt a Guinness World Record where he will go for the record of longest submerged dive in a controlled environment which currently stands at 100 hours or 4 days and 4 hours. Mark will attempt to do 120 hours or 5 days.

The challenge will commence at 1000hrs on the 18th of June 2012 and will be Mark's first dive since he was involved in the tragic accident that caused him to stop diving.