British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua was reportedly "inches from death" in a devastating car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and team members.
GMB Presenters Reveal Harrowing Details
During Tuesday's edition of ITV's Good Morning Britain (30 December), presenter Ranvir Singh delivered the shocking update on the former world champion's condition. Her co-host Richard Madeley provided further context, confirming the identities of the two men who lost their lives.
Kevin Latif Ayodele, known as Latz, was Joshua's personal trainer, and Sina Ghami served as his strength and conditioning coach. Promoter Eddie Hearn has paid tribute to the pair, calling them "two great men."
The Scene of the Tragic Collision
The accident occurred in Ogun State, approximately 30 miles from the Nigerian capital of Lagos. The expressway is notoriously known as one of the country's deadliest roads.
Joshua was a passenger in a Lexus Jeep, sitting behind the driver, when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck. The driver survived the impact. Footage from the scene showed the boxing icon being helped from the wreckage of the destroyed car.
Tragically, the crash happened while Joshua was travelling to visit family members. He had been enjoying a break following his victory over American YouTuber Jake Paul in Miami just over a week earlier.
A Community in Mourning
The personal loss for Joshua is profound. The friends had been a part of his boxing journey since its early days. In a cruel twist of fate, only hours before the crash, Joshua had posted an Instagram video of himself playing table tennis with Mr Ayodele.
Despite the severity of the crash, Joshua is now said to be in a stable condition in a nearby hospital, suffering only minor injuries. He has spoken to his family, and a friend says he is "OK but badly shaken up" as he grapples with the loss.
Concluding the report, Ranvir Singh expressed the sentiment of many: "Absolutely terrible situation for Anthony Joshua to find himself in and our sympathies are with the families of those who died."
