British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been discharged from a hospital in Nigeria after he got injured in a car crash that took the lives of two of his close friends.
In a joint statement, the Ogun and Lagos states announced that Joshua, 36, had been given the all-clear to continue his recovery at home, BBC reported. The statement also said that the former two-time world heavyweight champion was “heavy hearted” over his friends’ deaths. The deceased were identified as Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
Joshua was riding in a Lexus SUV with Ghami and Ayodele on an expressway in Ogun State on Monday when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck. Besides being close friends, Ghami and Ayodele were also members of Joshua’s team.
Prior to his passing, Ghami had been working for Joshua on a full-time basis for over ten years, BBC reported. Ghami worked as Joshua’s sport and exercise rehabilitation coach.
The joint statement said that in the wake of the fatal crash, Ghami and Ayodele were taken to a funeral home for their bodies to be “prepared for repatriation.” The joint statement also said that Joshua went to the funeral home after he was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.
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Following the deaths of Ghami and Ayodele, the boxing fraternity commiserated with Joshua as well as the families of the deceased.
“Rest in peace Latz and Sina,” Eddie Hearn, a boxing promoter who has worked with Joshua, shared on Instagram.
“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.”
Ogun State police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi informed the BBC on Wednesday that “investigations are still ongoing,” and the probe was “still discreet.”
The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun state also said preliminary investigations established that the accident occurred after the SUV burst a tyre.
Joshua was born to Nigerian parents in Watford, and he was vacationing in the West African nation at the time of the fatal incident. The crash also occurred after the 36-year-old’s December 19 victory over Jake Paul in Miami.
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