British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua is reported to be in a stable condition after miraculously surviving a horrific car crash in Nigeria on Monday that claimed the lives of two people.
The Scene of the Collision
The accident occurred shortly after 11am local time on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway near Makun in southwest Nigeria. Joshua, 36, was travelling in the back of a Lexus SUV as part of a two-vehicle convoy, on his way to visit family, when the collision happened. The SUV smashed into a stationary truck parked at the side of the road.
Images from the scene showed the Lexus completely destroyed, with its doors ripped off and the roof crushed. A Mitsubishi vehicle, believed to be part of the boxer's security detail, was seen parked undamaged just yards away from the wreckage. Five people were involved in the incident overall.
Miraculous Survival Amid Tragedy
Footage circulated online showed a shirtless and dazed-looking Joshua giving a thumbs-up from within the crumpled wreckage as officials and locals crowded around. He was later seen sitting in the front seat of an emergency vehicle, speaking to responders.
Tragically, two of the three other occupants in the Lexus with Joshua died at the scene. The Ogun State Government confirmed the fatalities were 'male foreign nationals'. Their bodies were taken to the Livewell Morgue in Sagamu.
"We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away - I pray for the departed to rest in peace," a relative of Joshua, who asked not to be named, told the BBC.
Conflicting Reports on the Cause
Authorities have provided conflicting initial reports on what caused the crash. The Federal Road Safety Corps suggested the SUV was travelling over the speed limit and lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre.
However, Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo offered a different account, telling ESPN the accident was caused by a burst tyre on Joshua's vehicle, which made the driver lose control and veer into the parked truck.
Local police are investigating the incident. An eyewitness described the rescue efforts to the Punch newspaper, stating they flagged down other vehicles to help before the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived.
The boxer, who has family roots in Sagamu, Ogun State, was believed to be on a pre-planned holiday in Nigeria. He had flown there after his high-profile knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami just days earlier, a fight that reportedly earned him around £70 million.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, told Daily Mail Sport they were trying to contact him and were awaiting more information. A friend of the star said Joshua was "okay but badly shaken up".
The Foreign Office stated it is "urgently investigating" reports of the incident involving a British national and stands ready to offer consular assistance.
