MAN mountain Mark Felix has thanked fans for their support after making it to the final four of the World’s Strongest Man competition.

The Rishton plasterer, 47, had been competing in the contest in Haitang Bay, in China, where he had been hoping to beat off competition from nine of the strongest men on the planet.

In the semi final, Mark had to compete in classic events such as the loading race, truck pull and atlas stones.

The reigning champion is Zydrunas Savickas, a 38-year-old Lithuanian powerlifter who has won the title three times before.

Yesterday, Mark, the oldest competitor, thanked those who had sent him messages of support on social networking sites.

He said: “Thanks again for all the kind words.

“It’s so nice to know what I enjoy doing gives enjoyment to so many others.”

Scores of Tweets poured in for Mark after the semi-final, in which he amazed viewers with his incredible dead lift.

Paul Hendry said: “I'm 51 and it gave me a boost to carry on with weight training. He must be the best deadlifter in the world.”

During the programme, Nick Prior wrote: “The king of deadlifts!!!”

And Grimbles Tweeted: “Casually dead lifting a car on World’s Strongest Man #beast.”

Mark moved to East Lancashire from Grenada at the age of 23 and started competing as a strongman in 2003 at the age of 37.

He won the IFSA British Championships in 2005 and was the Vice Grip Viking Challenge champion in 2011 and 2012.

”The final of the World’s Strongest Man will be shown on Channel 5 tonight at 8pm.