Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been discharged from the hospital in Nigeria following a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
On Monday, Joshua was involved in a fatal road traffic accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The vehicle, carrying a team of four, reportedly collided with a stationary truck, leading to the unfortunate deaths of Joshua’s friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Joshua and another passenger were swiftly taken to a specialized medical facility in Lagos. After thorough evaluations by medical professionals, both were found to be stable and did not require emergency medical intervention.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the Ogun and Lagos state governments announced that Joshua was clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.
Joshua and his mother visited the funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects to his two departed friends.
The statement from the Lagos and Ogun state governments noted, “Anthony Joshua was discharged from the hospital late this afternoon; though heavy-hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends, he was deemed clinically fit to recuperate from home.” It further added, “Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation scheduled for later this evening.”
Ayodele served as Joshua’s personal trainer, while Ghami was his strength and conditioning coach. Just hours before the accident, Joshua and Ayodele had shared clips on social media playing table tennis together.
The governments of Lagos and Ogun states expressed their condolences to the families of the two young men, stating, “We pray the Almighty grant the repose of their souls whilst granting their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear this very sad and painful loss.”