Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has been hospitalised following a serious road accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State that claimed the lives of two people.
Naija News reports that the incident happened shortly after 11am on Monday in the Makun area, when the sports utility vehicle conveying the 36-year-old boxer crashed into a stationary truck. Joshua, who was travelling in a convoy, sustained injuries described by officials as minor and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Disturbing footage shared on social media showed the British-Nigerian boxer shirtless and visibly shaken inside the badly damaged Lexus SUV, surrounded by shattered glass. In another clip, he was seen seated in an emergency vehicle while speaking with officials at the scene.
Nigerian road safety authorities confirmed that five men were involved in the collision. Joshua was seated behind the driver, alongside another passenger, while his security detail followed in a separate vehicle.
According to the Daily Mail, Preliminary findings suggest the SUV was travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit and lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre before crashing into the parked truck. According to reports obtained by the Daily Mail, the vehicle suffered a tyre burst as it swerved moments before impact.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Lanre Ogunlowo, said: “I can confirm an accident occurred and Anthony Joshua has been taken to the hospital.
“A vehicle rammed into a stationary vehicle. Unfortunately, there were two fatalities. Anthony Joshua was treated by first responders at the scene and then taken to the hospital.”
A close associate of the boxer said he escaped serious harm but was badly shaken by the experience.
“He’s okay but badly shaken up. Nobody knows quite what damage has been done, but he was able to escape the wreckage. Others weren’t quite so lucky, so it’s been a traumatic ordeal which he’s trying to process,” the friend said.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told The Daily Mail that efforts were ongoing to reach the boxer.
“We are trying to contact Anthony, and in the meantime, we don’t want to speculate on how he is, but thankfully, he appears okay from what I have seen in the images,” Hearn said.
“We are awaiting more information on what has happened and will update in due course.”
In a later statement, the Ogun State Government expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the crash.
“The Ogun State Government has expressed profound condolences to the families, friends, and associates of the victims of a tragic road accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, who narrowly escaped death on Monday,” the statement read.
“Preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot. Their remains have since been deposited at the Livewell Morgue in Sagamu.
“Anthony Joshua and the driver of the vehicle were promptly rescued by security personnel attached to his convoy and taken to a hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention.”
The government added that the damaged vehicle had been evacuated to the Sagamu Motor Traffic Division for investigation, while efforts were underway to tow the truck involved in the crash.
An eyewitness, quoted by Punch, described the frantic moments after the accident.
“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,” the eyewitness 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.”
Joshua, who has family roots in Sagamu, Ogun State, is believed to have been on holiday and travelling to visit relatives when the accident occurred. A relative told the BBC the family was still in shock.
“We are hoping for his speedy recovery, and also for the people who passed away. I pray for the departed to rest in peace,” the relative said. “He’s normally coming around for the new year, so we were expecting him.”
