Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital less than three days after two of his close friends were killed in a traffic accident in Nigeria.
Joshua is currently recuperating at his home in Nigeria, the local governments of Lagos and Ogun states said in a statement late Wednesday night.
The 36-year-old man was in the back seat of his car when it crashed into a stationary truck on a highway near Lagos, killing his friends Kevin ‘Latif’ Ayodele and Sheena Gami.
Ayodele was Joshua’s personal trainer and Gami was his strength and conditioning coach.
Joshua, who suffered minor injuries in the accident, and his mother paid their respects at the funeral home Wednesday afternoon, the statement said.
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Warning: This footage contains distressing scenes. British heavyweight Anthony Joshua has walked away from the car he was a passenger in after a fatal road accident in Nigeria. (Photo:@akinyemiabdulq1)
A statement published in
The post also expressed gratitude to the team of doctors and medical staff at Ikoyi Lagoon Hospital who treated Joshua and the injured.
He added: “The quality of care and professionalism is truly commendable.”
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Friends pay tribute to Sheena Gami and Latif Ayodele, two passengers who sadly died in the car crash involving Anthony Joshua in Nigeria.
Joshua’s family expresses ‘huge shock’, Hearn offers condolences
Joshua, who is of Nigerian descent, was in Nigeria to celebrate his recent fight with Jake Paul.
After 15 months away from the ring, Joshua made his return on December 19th with a sixth-round knockout win over the YouTuber-turned-boxer in Miami.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn paid tribute to Ayodele, also known as Rats and Gami, in an Instagram post, writing: “Rest in peace Rats and Sheena. Your energy and loyalty among many other great qualities will be sorely missed.”
“We wish strength and guidance to their family, friends, and of course all of AJ during this very difficult time.”
Residents of Sagamu, Ogun State, where Joshua’s relatives live, expressed shock at Monday’s events.
Adedamola Joshua, the uncle of Anthony Joshua’s father, told The Associated Press: “The whole nation was very close to him (Anthony Joshua) and he was very free among the people, so it was a big shock for us.”
Oluwatoyin Omoleye, a resident of Sagamu, said: “It’s very sad because Anthony was planning to come back to celebrate with the people here.”
