Former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has returned to the United Kingdom following a devastating vehicular incident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two key members of his training team. The British boxing icon arrived at London’s Stansted Airport via private aircraft on Friday evening according to reports from The Sun newspaper.
The tragic collision occurred on Monday along the heavily trafficked Lagos-Ibadan expressway in southwestern Nigeria. Official statements from Nigerian police authorities indicate that the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua and his associates collided with a stationary truck under circumstances still under investigation.
Nigerian law enforcement has formally charged driver Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, with dangerous driving resulting in fatalities. The accused is scheduled for court proceedings on January 20 to address the charges. While Kayode and Joshua sustained relatively minor injuries in the crash, strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif Ayodele tragically perished at the accident scene.
Medical personnel treated Joshua at a local medical facility before his discharge on Wednesday. The boxing champion, who maintains strong familial connections to Nigeria, had been vacationing in the country following his decisive victory over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19. His return to Britain precedes memorial services planned for his deceased colleagues, both of whom had formed integral parts of his professional support network for years.
The 36-year-old Olympic gold medalist (2012) now faces personal and professional challenges as he processes the loss of close companions while maintaining his elite athletic career trajectory.