Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped tragedy by changing seats just before a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two of his friends. The crash occurred on Monday, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of Joshua’s companions while the boxer sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized.
The driver of the vehicle has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, with his lawyer stating that the incident was an accident and attributing it to brake failure. It was revealed that Joshua initially sat in the front seat but switched places with another passenger due to visibility issues with the wing mirror.
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the driver, has been charged with multiple offenses including causing death by dangerous driving, reckless driving, and operating without a valid driver’s license. The case has been adjourned to January 20 by the Sagamu Magistrate Court.
Among the deceased were long-time friends of Joshua, with one serving as his strength and conditioning coach and the other as a trainer. Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer, was on vacation in Nigeria following a recent victory in Miami.
Various figures from the boxing world, including promoter Eddie Hearn and champions Tony Bellew, Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, and Wladimir Klitschko, have expressed their condolences for the loss.
Joshua was discharged from the hospital on New Year’s Eve and has not yet publicly commented on the incident. He was deemed fit to recover at home, as confirmed by a statement from the Lagos state commissioner for information.
The statement also mentioned that Joshua and his mother paid their respects to the departed friends at a Lagos funeral home, where preparations for their repatriation were underway.