Anthony Joshua’s camp verify two of his shut mates died in automotive crash | Anthony Joshua

The British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has issued a press release after he was injured in a automotive crash in Nigeria on Monday morning which killed two of his shut mates.

The previous world heavyweight boxing champion was taken to an undisclosed hospital after his automotive hit a stationary automobile at about 11am on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Ogun state police commissioner, Lanre Ogunlowo, stated. The driving force of Joshua’s automobile was additionally injured, he added.

An official spokesman for Joshua stated: “It’s with the deepest and most profound disappointment that we verify, following a street visitors accident in Lagos, Nigeria earlier at this time, the loss of life of Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele.

“Each had been shut mates and integral members of Anthony’s crew. We respectfully ask that area and privateness be given to the households at the moment whereas they course of this really stunning and devastating information. Anthony sustained accidents within the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and remedy, he’s in a steady situation and can stay there for commentary.”

Ghami acted as energy and conditioning coach whereas Ayodele was a coach in Joshua’s camp. Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn stated: “With the heaviest of hearts. Two nice males. Relaxation in everlasting peace Sina and Latz [Ayodele]. My ideas and deepest prayers are with everybody.”

An Ogun police command assertion learn: “The automobile conveying Mr Joshua, a Lexus SUV, was concerned within the accident below circumstances which can be presently being investigated. Joshua, seated within the rear of the automobile, sustained minor accidents and is receiving medical consideration with one other injured particular person.

“Tragically, two different passengers within the automobile misplaced their lives on the scene. The deceased have been conveyed to Livewell hospital morgue, Sagamu. The Ogun state police command extends heartfelt condolences to the households of the deceased and assures the general public {that a} thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident has commenced.”

The Nigeria president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, added his condolences. He stated: “I’ve spoken with AJ to personally convey my condolences over the passing of his two shut associates within the latest accident. I wanted him a full and speedy restoration and prayed with him.”

A video shared by the native information outlet Punch appeared to indicate Joshua sitting within the again left seat of a broken automotive. A second video confirmed him strolling slowly and getting right into a police automobile.

Nigeria’s federal street security corps stated in posts on X that it had arrived on the scene inside three minutes of being notified. It stated: “A complete of 5 grownup males had been concerned within the crash. Two individuals sadly misplaced their lives, one sustained accidents, whereas two others escaped unharmed. Anthony Joshua was rescued alive and sustained minor accidents.”

The company added: “Preliminary findings point out that the Lexus Jeep, which was suspected to be travelling past the legally prescribed pace restrict on the hall, misplaced management throughout an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed right into a stationary truck nicely packed [sic] by the aspect of the street.

“The first causes of the crash being extreme pace and wrongful overtaking represent critical visitors violations and stay among the many main causes of deadly street crashes on Nigerian highways.”

Images shared by the company on X confirmed a black automotive with a badly broken entrance and a truck coated in tarpaulin on a downward sloping grass verge, with what seems to be a dent on the left aspect of its again.

Joshua is the son of British-Nigerian mother and father and has household ties within the city of Sagamu, about 30 miles north of Nigeria’s industrial capital, Lagos. Police stated the crash befell on the north-bound Ibadan aspect of the freeway, near the junction to Sagamu.

The 36-year-old attended a boarding faculty in Ikenne, 53 miles from the crash web site, earlier than returning to Britain aged 12.

On 20 December, he knocked out the YouTuber Jake Paul within the sixth spherical of a boxing match streamed reside on Netflix, after a 15-month break from the game. He was anticipated to struggle Tyson Fury, one other former world heavyweight champion, fellow Briton and longtime rival, subsequent 12 months.

In a submit on X referencing the accident, Paul wrote: “Life is way more essential than boxing. I’m praying for the misplaced lives, AJ and anybody impacted by at this time’s unlucky accident.”

Earlier on Monday morning, Joshua had posted a video of himself taking part in desk tennis on his Instagram tales, with out disclosing a location.