Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital and declared clinically fit to continue his recovery at home following a car accident that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
A joint statement by officials of Lagos and Ogun states confirmed that Joshua was discharged on Wednesday. The statement described the boxer as deeply distressed by the loss of his friends, Lateef Ayodele and Cina Gami, who died in the crash.
The governments of both states expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for strength for their loved ones. They also acknowledged public concern and appreciation shown since the incident.
Joshua and his mother were reported to have visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects as preparations were made to repatriate the bodies of the deceased.
The statement also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support and commended medical personnel at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, for their care of Joshua and other injured persons.
The accident occurred around 11:00 a.m. along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the Makun area of Ogun State, when an SUV conveying Joshua collided with a stationary truck. A video from the scene showed the boxer being rescued from the damaged vehicle with visible injuries.
The Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps attributed the crash to overspeeding and wrongful overtaking. According to the agency, the driver was travelling at high speed and attempted to overtake improperly before crashing into a truck parked on the shoulder of the road.
The FRSC confirmed that Joshua and the driver survived the accident and were immediately taken to hospital by security operatives attached to the boxer.
