Anthony Joshua is expected to spend New Year’s Eve at one of Nigeria’s best hospitals as he continues to recover from a car crash that killed two of his friends. The two-time heavyweight world champion was a passenger in a black Lexus when it ploughed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria. The deaths of two of his long-term friends – Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele- were confirmed on Monday night, while the vehicle’s other two passengers miraculously escaped with their lives. After the fatal road collision, Joshua was rushed to the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, which has been rated the best private hospital in Nigeria for the past two years. Local police told Daily Mail Sport that Joshua is ‘stable’ and suffered only ‘minor’ injuries, although there are fears they could be more severe than publicised. Sources now said that Joshua is set to remain in hospital for at least a couple more days while he continues to recuperate. Police investigators have confirmed the car crash was caused by a tyre blowout after Joshua’s Lexus ‘lost control’. According to The Telegraph, traffic police believe the car was travelling over the 50mph speed limit and lost control during ‘an overtaking manoeuvre’ on what locals have claimed is one of Nigeria’s deadliest roads. Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Police Commander of Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (Trace), reported that the vehicle had ‘experienced a tyre burst because of excessive speed’. An eyewitness has also told Punch newspaper: ‘It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. ‘Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash. ‘Other eyewitnesses and I began the rescue and flagged down oncoming vehicles to assist. A few minutes after the crash, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived.’ Footage taken at the roadside showed the boxer grimacing in agony as he was moved from the wrecked vehicle into a police cruiser. Nigeria’s president revealed on Monday that Joshua’s mother Yeta Odusanya had rushed to his bedside at the hospital after being informed of the crash. The luxury hospital boasts an elite service dubbed the Harley Street Practice, located on the sixth floor, which offers Duchess Royal Suites for VIP patients. Patients receive one-to-one care 24-hours a day and have access to medical personnel and hospitality staff. They also receive gourmet meals fully catered to their taste. The basic packages for the Royal Suite with ensuite bathroom facilities starts at £2,000. A representative of Joshua issued a statement on Monday evening confirming the deaths of the boxer’s two team members and ‘close friends’. The spokesman said: ‘It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm, following a road traffic accident in Lagos, Nigeria earlier today, the death of Sina Ghami and Kevin “Lateef” Ayodele. ‘Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. ‘We respectfully ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time while they process this truly shocking and devastating news. ‘Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, he is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation. ‘No further information will be made available at this time.’ Joshua’s long-time rival Tyson Fury paid tribute to the two men who were killed during the crash, sharing a post to Instagram on Tuesday. ‘This is so sad,’ wrote the Gypsy King on the social media platform. ‘May God give them a good bed in heaven.’ The crash, which occurred at midday local time, came just 10 days after Joshua defeated Jake Paul in Miami. As reported by the Daily Mail on Monday, Joshua had been visiting family in Nigeria as part of a one-week holiday, with a view to resuming training ahead of a fight in late March, most likely in Saudi Arabia against the kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, prior to his proposed showdown against Fury in September or October. While the exact nature of Joshua’s injuries are currently unknown, it is thought to be highly doubtful that he will be in any shape for a quick ring return. There will also be the question of psychological trauma as the ordeal that killed two other passengers in the same vehicle.
