British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been injured in a car crash in Nigeria, which killed two members of his team. The former world champion was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway in Ogun State, near Lagos.
The two men who died were Joshua's close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Latz Ayodele, the boxer's promoter Matchroom Boxing said in a statement. It added that Joshua was in a stable condition in hospital, where he was taken for checks and treatment and will remain for observation.
Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi of Nigeria's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) stated that early investigations showed the Lexus had been travelling along the highway from Lagos to Sagamu when it experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed and then lost control. Both Joshua and the driver were rescued from the wreckage and taken to a hospital in Sagamu for medical treatment.
The two other passengers - Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele - were pronounced dead at the scene. Matchroom expressed deep condolences for the families affected, and tributes from the boxing community highlighted the significant roles Ghami and Ayodele played in Joshua's life and career.
A joint statement from the Ogun and Lagos state governments confirmed Joshua was stable and conscious, having been in touch with his family. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences, describing the incident as a tragedy.
This crash marks a tragic moment for Joshua, who had recently celebrated a victory in the boxing ring and had been in Nigeria to connect with his roots and family ahead of the New Year celebrations. As investigations continue, Joshua's family and fans await his full recovery and remember his fallen friends.
The two men who died were Joshua's close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Latz Ayodele, the boxer's promoter Matchroom Boxing said in a statement. It added that Joshua was in a stable condition in hospital, where he was taken for checks and treatment and will remain for observation.
Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi of Nigeria's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) stated that early investigations showed the Lexus had been travelling along the highway from Lagos to Sagamu when it experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed and then lost control. Both Joshua and the driver were rescued from the wreckage and taken to a hospital in Sagamu for medical treatment.
The two other passengers - Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele - were pronounced dead at the scene. Matchroom expressed deep condolences for the families affected, and tributes from the boxing community highlighted the significant roles Ghami and Ayodele played in Joshua's life and career.
A joint statement from the Ogun and Lagos state governments confirmed Joshua was stable and conscious, having been in touch with his family. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences, describing the incident as a tragedy.
This crash marks a tragic moment for Joshua, who had recently celebrated a victory in the boxing ring and had been in Nigeria to connect with his roots and family ahead of the New Year celebrations. As investigations continue, Joshua's family and fans await his full recovery and remember his fallen friends.
