Anthony Joshua Discharged From Hospital After Fatal Lagos Car Crash

British boxer Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital following a car crash near Lagos that killed two of his close associates, Nigerian authorities said late Wednesday.

The two-time former heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medallist had been under observation at Lagoon Hospital in Lagos after sustaining minor injuries in the accident on Monday, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotoso said in a statement posted on X that Joshua was discharged late Wednesday afternoon after being declared clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.

“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,” Omotoso said.

Team Members Killed

The crash claimed the lives of Sina Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, a trainer. Just hours before the accident, Joshua and Ayodele had shared videos on social media of themselves playing table tennis.

Hearn paid tribute earlier on Wednesday, posting on Instagram:
“Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed. Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.”

Crash Details

The accident occurred around 11 a.m. local time on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major highway linking Lagos with Ogun State, after the vehicle Joshua and his team were travelling in struck a stationary truck. Video footage circulating on social media showed Joshua being pulled from the wreckage, visibly in pain.

Nigeria is the ancestral homeland of Joshua’s parents.

Road Safety Concerns

The incident has renewed concerns over road safety in Nigeria, where traffic accidents are frequent. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, the country recorded 5,421 deaths from 9,570 road accidents in 2024, an increase of 340 fatalities compared to 2023.

Joshua had recently returned to the ring, defeating YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19, a bout he described as part of his efforts to regain peak fitness ahead of a push for future elite-level title fights.