In a heartbreaking turn of events, Anthony Joshua’s close friend has openly expressed that ‘everyone is concerned’ about how the renowned British boxer will cope with the emotional fallout from a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends.
In this devastating incident, which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria, Joshua miraculously emerged with only minor injuries, while his dear friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, tragically lost their lives when their SUV collided with a stationary truck.
Joshua was released from the hospital just before New Year's Eve, and he made a heartfelt visit to a funeral home to pay his last respects to his friends.
Kolawole Omoboriowo, who has been a part of Joshua's circle for eight years and was the one to inform Joshua's family about the accident, shared his deep concerns regarding the boxer’s mental state. He manages Joshua's logistics in Nigeria and characterized the crash as 'a crazy nightmare,' revealing that Ayodele was like a twin brother to Joshua.
In an interview with Sky News, Omoboriowo stated: "What I am thinking about right now is: 'How do we help AJ come out of this traumatic experience?' That is the primary concern for all of us at the moment.
"While many might believe that AJ is coping well, we are uncertain about how he will process this loss in the long run. Our main wish for him is that he gets some time to relax and recuperate before we figure out the next steps.
"We simply need to keep him in our prayers, asking for strength from God to guide him through these painful losses."
Following his discharge from the hospital on Wednesday, a statement from the regional governments of Lagos and Ogun states conveyed their condolences, saying, "We pray that The Almighty grants peace to their souls and provides their families with the strength to endure this immense sorrow.
Though Anthony Joshua left the hospital feeling heavy-hearted and overwhelmed by grief, he was medically cleared to recover at home.
During the accident, Joshua occupied the rear passenger seat behind the driver, who also survived the incident. Tragically, his two friends, seated on the right side of the vehicle, did not survive the collision.
An eyewitness account detailed that there were four people in the Lexus SUV, including Joshua and others, while a second vehicle was part of their convoy. Eyewitnesses began rescue efforts immediately after the crash, calling for help from passing vehicles until officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived on the scene.
Disturbing footage captured Joshua grimacing in pain as he was transferred from the wreckage into a police vehicle. In a move highlighting the gravity of the situation, Nigeria's president revealed that Joshua's mother, Yeta Odusanya, hurried to the hospital upon hearing news of the crash.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the accident may face charges for reckless driving. The Nigerian Police Force confirmed that they have taken a statement from the local driver, who had been hired for the trip, after he was also discharged from the hospital.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, a spokesperson for the police, informed the Daily Mail that the driver has provided his account of the events. Babatunde Akinbiyi, from Ogun State's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, indicated that a preliminary investigation has been completed, revealing that the car had been speeding prior to the crash, with a blown front tire leading to a loss of control.
Following the collision, Joshua was swiftly transported to the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, which has received accolades as Nigeria's top private hospital for the last two years. Despite being reported as 'stable' and having sustained only minor injuries, there are growing concerns that the actual extent of his injuries may be more severe than initially believed.
