Anthony Joshua Reportedly In ‘Stable’ Condition After Car Crash

Anthony Joshua is in “stable” condition at a specialized medical facility in Lagos, Nigeria, after being involved in a tragic road accident that left two of his close associates dead.

Conflicting reports have emerged about the cause of the accident, with one source saying it was due to overspeeding while another claimed his vehicle suffered a burst tire.

Anthony Joshua would now focus on recovery, but it remains unclear if he’ll still be participating in a scheduled match in February.

Authorities in Nigeria have confirmed that Anthony Joshua “is stable” after suffering a ghastly motor accident around 11 am local time on Monday.

The Ogun state government said in a statement: “Anthony Joshua and another passenger were immediately evacuated to a specialised medical facility in Lagos.”

They continued, “Following comprehensive clinical assessments, doctors have confirmed that both patients are stable and do not require any emergency medical intervention at this time.”

The statement then added that “a full medical team has been assembled and will continue to monitor them closely.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps noted in a statement posted on X that Joshua’s vehicle was “suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor” and lost control “during an overtaking manoeuvre” before it crashed into the stationary truck.

“The primary causes of the crash, being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking, constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways,” the organization said.

“To this end, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, on behalf of the entire Management and staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps extend heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured victim, Anthony Joshua, a speedy recovery,” they added.

It remains unclear what the exact cause of the accident is, as the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Lanre Ogunlowo, told ESPN that Joshua’s vehicle had a tire burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The Federal Road Safety Corps never mentioned the tire issues in its statement.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion cheated death when he and some associates set out to see family members, and were traveling along the Sagamu axis of the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway before the incident happened.

According to reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lexus SUV conveying Joshua and three other people collided with a stationary heavy-duty truck parked along the highway.

Viral photos of the accident scene show that Joshua’s vehicle was totaled, with the door ripped off and the roof smashed out of place.

The bumper was squashed beyond repair, while another jeep, believed to be part of his convoy, stood undamaged close by.

Footages from the scene show a battered Joshua being pulled out of the backseat of the vehicle with shattered glass surrounding him. Another footage saw him give a thumbs up as locals gathered around the wreckage.

The Ogun state government has confirmed that the two casualties recorded were “foreign nationals.”

“Preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot,” they said. “Their remains have since been deposited at the Livewell Morgue in Sagamu.”

The deceased individuals have now been identified as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and his personal trainer and friend, Kevin Latif Ayodele.

Ghami was the co-founder of the Evolve Gym in London. The gym’s website described him as a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator. Besides his work with Joshua, he had also worked with athletes in the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA), per reports.

Ayodele, going by his Instagram page, was also a massive gym buff who loved working out.

He was also open about his faith, with one of his pinned posts on Instagram reading, “Finding Islam in 2012 has been my biggest blessing Alhamdulilah.”

Early Monday, an eyewitness who carried out the first response before authorities arrived at the scene told Nigerian newspaper, Punch NG, that Joshua’s traveling companions, Ghami and Ayodele, died on the spot.

“It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash,” the individual, identified as Adeniyi Orojo, said.

“Other eyewitnesses and I began the rescue and flagged down oncoming vehicles to assist. A few minutes after the crash, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived. The passenger beside the driver and the person beside Joshua died on the spot,” he added.

Joshua had been in Nigeria for a period of rest following his 6th round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami earlier this month. He was expected to take to the ring again in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but it remains unclear what the fate of that match is following his fatal crash and injuries.