Lagos, Nigeria: Anthony Joshua, the British boxer and former world heavyweight champion, has “narrowly escaped death” and is in hospital with minor injuries after a car accident that killed two other passengers in Nigeria.
The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed the accident in a post on X, adding that the government had sent ambulances to the crash site.
The crash occurred on a major thoroughfare, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that links Ogun state to Lagos, the country’s economic capital, at about 11am local time. Nigeria is the homeland of Joshua’s parents.
“The vehicle conveying Mr Joshua, a Lexus SUV, was involved in the accident under circumstances that are currently being investigated,” Ogun State Police said in a statement. Joshua, seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical attention with another injured person.
According to a statement by Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, preliminary investigations indicated the vehicle was “travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck,” which was by the side of the road.
The Ogun state government said that “preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot.” AP has not been able to independently verify their identities.
Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Jake Paul in their heavyweight bout in Miami last week.Credit: Getty Images
“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,” an Ogun state government spokesman said.
“Our hearts go out to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident, which the state considers a devastating loss.”