Close associates of British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua have voiced profound concern for his psychological wellbeing, revealing that 'everybody is worried' about how he will process the trauma of a deadly car accident in Nigeria.
A Horrific Collision on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
The incident occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria. Joshua was a passenger in an SUV that collided with a stationary truck. Miraculously, the boxer escaped with only minor injuries and was discharged from hospital late on New Year's Eve.
Tragically, his two long-time friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, were killed in the crash. Joshua was seated in the rear left passenger seat behind the driver, who also survived. His two friends, who were on the right side of the vehicle, died following the impact.
An eyewitness described the scene to Punch newspaper, stating it involved a two-vehicle convoy consisting of a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua's security detail was travelling in the vehicle behind. After the collision, bystanders and officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps worked to assist at the scene.
Inner Circle Fears for AJ's Mental State
Kolawole Omoboriowo, who has known Joshua for eight years and coordinates his logistics in Nigeria, broke the news of the accident to the boxer's family. He described the event as 'a crazy nightmare' and said Ayodele was 'like a twin brother' to Joshua.
Speaking to Sky News, Omoboriowo outlined the primary concern now facing Joshua's team. 'What is actually in my head now is: "How do we get AJ out of that traumatised situation?"' he said. 'And that is just the only thing that everybody is worried about right now.'
He urged the public to give the athlete space to grieve, adding: 'Right now, everybody might think AJ is okay. But we don't know how he's going to take it... We just need to keep praying for AJ, for God to give him the strength to be able to carry on with these losses.'
After being discharged from hospital, a heavy-hearted Joshua paid an emotional visit to a funeral home to pay his respects to his deceased friends.
Investigation Points to Speeding and Tyre Blowout
Authorities in Nigeria have begun their investigation into the cause of the fatal crash. The driver, who had been hired locally for the trip, has been discharged from hospital and has provided a statement to police.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, a spokesperson for Ogun State's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, confirmed a preliminary investigation had been conducted. The probe concluded the car had been 'speeding' when the front tyre on the passenger side burst, causing the driver to lose control.
The driver could potentially face prosecution for reckless driving. Meanwhile, Nigeria's president revealed that Joshua's mother, Yeta Odusanya, rushed to his bedside at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos after being informed of the crash.
While local police told Daily Mail Sport that Joshua was 'stable' with 'minor' injuries, there are lingering fears his physical injuries may be more severe than has been publicly stated. The focus for his team, however, remains squarely on supporting his mental recovery from an immense personal loss.
