Anthony Joshua released from hospital after fatal accident in Nigeria

Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital after a car accident in Nigeria that killed two members of his team. The former two-time heavyweight champion was discharged from Lagoon Hospital in Lagos on December 31, 2025, after doctors determined he was medically fit to recover at home.

Anthony Joshua released from hospital, pays respects to deceased friends

The crash occurred on December 29, 2025 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Makun in Ogun State at approximately 11:00 am local time. Joshua was sitting in the back of a black Lexus SUV when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck parked on the side of the road. Two of Joshua’s close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed on impact.

Ghami, 36, had been Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for more than a year decade. A certified sports and exercise rehabilitator specializing in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercises, Ghami co-founded Evolve Gym in London and has worked with athletes in boxing, American football and basketball. His expertise in injury prevention and recovery has made him an integral part of Team AJ for over a decade.

Ayodele, also known as ‘Latz’, was Joshua’s personal trainer and long-time friend. Based in Dubai, he was known for his passion for fitness and his connections with high-profile athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Just hours before the fatal collision, Joshua had posted a video on social media of the two playing table tennis together. In a poignant social media post published days before the crash, Ayodele had written: “In between your goals, remember that there is something precious called life that you should enjoy.”​

Preliminary investigation by Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps revealed that the vehicle was exceeding the speed limit when it lost control during an overtaking maneuver and collided with the truck. Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo stated that a tire blowout caused the driver to lose control. The driver of the vehicle has also been released from hospital and is currently being questioned by authorities. Reports indicate that he could be prosecuted for reckless driving.

Joshua had been to Nigeria visiting his parents’ home country after his knockout victory over Jake Paul on December 19, 2025 in Miami. The British boxer usually travels to Nigeria every year for New Year celebrations with family. He suffered minor injuries in the crash and remained under observation at the Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi for two days before his release.

After his discharge on December 31, Joshua visited a funeral home in Lagos with his mother to pay their last respects as the bodies of Ghami and Ayodele were prepared for repatriation to the United Kingdom. A joint statement from the Lagos and Ogun state governments described Joshua as “heavy hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends”, but confirmed that he was “deemed clinically fit to recover from home”.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke to Joshua by telephone to convey his condolences and offer support. Both Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, expressed gratitude to the medical team at Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi for their care and professionalism during Joshua’s treatment. Jake Paul, Joshua’s recent opponent, posted on social media: “Life is much more important than boxing. I pray for the lives lost, AJ, and everyone affected by today’s unfortunate accident.”