The tragic moments before Anthony Joshua’s Nigeria car crash: New video shows start of fatal journey which killed two friends and saw boxer pulled from mangled wreckage

A video shared by Anthony Joshua’s friend Kevin Latif Ayodele appears to show the final moments before the boxer and his entourage were involved in a car crash in Nigeria that injured the Briton and killed Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

Joshua, 36, was in an SUV when it crashed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan highway in Makun shortly after 11am today.

Clips shared on social media by Joshua’s friend Ayodele, who trains Joshua and runs an account called Healthy Mindset, show him and Ghami approaching the Lexus Jeep before showing footage of the car passing over the bridge.

Tragically, strength and conditioning coach Ghami and Ayodele did not survive the fatal crash, and a representative for Joshua confirmed the news in a touching statement on Monday night.

‘It is with the deepest and deepest sadness that we confirm the deaths of Sina Ghami and Kevin “Lateef” Ayodele following a traffic accident that occurred in Lagos, Nigeria, earlier today.

‘Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team.

Ayodele posted a video of himself and Sina Ghami, another member of Joshua’s inner circle, arriving in Nigeria before the fatal crash.

‘We respectfully request that families be given space and privacy at this time as we process this truly shocking and devastating news.’

In the images published on the internet after the accident, the former heavyweight world champion boxer is seen shirtless and dazed, sitting in the wrecked vehicle, among the broken glass.

He is later seen talking to authorities in the front seat of an emergency vehicle. Joshua suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.

Joshua’s team said in a statement that he was in stable condition despite his injuries, but sources close to the fighter told Daily Mail Sport they feared the damage could be more serious than announced.

Although Nigerian authorities have downplayed the extent of damage sustained by Joshua, a member of his inner circle has suggested the possibility of rib and knee injuries.

A total of five people were involved in the collision, Nigerian road safety officials said this afternoon.

It is understood that Joshua was sitting behind the driver along with another passenger at the time of the accident. The security team was following behind the Lexus.

Authorities stated that the SUV was traveling “above the legal speed limit” and lost control while making an “overtaking manoeuvre”, then crashed into a truck parked on the side of the road.

The Daily Mail understands the car’s tire burst when it left the road and hit the truck.

The Commissioner of Ogun State Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, said: ‘I can confirm that an accident has occurred and Anthony Joshua has been taken to hospital.’

Joshua was photographed following a car crash that killed and injured two people in Nigeria on Monday

Footage posted online showed the 36-year-old former heavyweight world champion shirtless and dazed, sitting amid broken glass in a wrecked Lexus.

Image of two cars at the scene watched by bystanders

He is later seen speaking to authorities while sitting in the front seat of an emergency vehicle. Joshua suffered minor injuries and two others died at the scene.

He added: ‘A vehicle crashed into a stationary car. Unfortunately, there were two deaths. Anthony Joshua was treated at the scene by first responders and then taken to hospital.’

A friend of Joshua said he was ‘okay but badly shaken’.

‘No one knows exactly what kind of damage was done, but he managed to escape the wreckage,’ they added.

‘Others weren’t so lucky, so it was a traumatic ordeal that he struggled to overcome.’

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Daily Mail Sport: ‘We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate about how he is but thankfully he looks fine from what I’ve seen in the photos.

‘We are awaiting further information about what happened and will update in due course.’

In a statement later shared with the Daily Mail, the Ogun State Government provided new details of the accident.

A spokesman said: ‘The Ogun State Government extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims of the tragic road accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, who narrowly escaped death on Monday.

‘Initial reports indicate that two foreign national males died at the scene. Their bodies have since been deposited at Livewell Mortuary in Sagamu.

‘Anthony Joshua and the driver of the vehicle were immediately rescued by security personnel attached to his convoy and taken to a hospital where they are currently receiving medical attention.

‘We are told that the sports utility vehicle carrying its contents crashed into a truck stopped on the highway.

‘While the severely damaged vehicle was evacuated to the Sagamu Motor Traffic Division (MTD) office, efforts are continuing to tow the truck involved in the accident to the same location to facilitate a thorough investigation.

‘The Ogun State Government describes the incident as extremely unfortunate and painful, especially with the loss of precious lives, while others have sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.

‘Our hearts go out to the grieving families who lost their loved ones in this tragic event, which the state considers a devastating loss.

‘As we mourn collectively, we pray for the rest of the souls of those who died and for the speedy recovery of the injured. May God Almighty give the families left behind the strength to bear this irreparable loss.’

Photo of a truck on the roadside after a deadly crash in Nigeria on Monday

A large vehicle with a tarpaulin covered it on Monday afternoon. It is generally thought that 5 people were involved in the accident.

The photo of the truck that was hit by Lexus is here

Four hours ago, Joshua had shared a story on his Instagram account in which he was seen topless while playing table tennis with his long-time friend Ayodele.

Joshua is seen getting back to his feet after getting help from the wrecked Lexus

An eyewitness told Punch newspaper: ‘It was a convoy of two vehicles: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV.

Joshua was sitting behind the driver with another person. There was also a passenger sitting next to the driver, resulting in four passengers in the Lexus that crashed. The security team was in the vehicle behind them before the accident.

‘Other bystanders and I began the rescue and flagged down vehicles approaching to assist. ‘A few minutes after the accident, Federal Road Safety Corps officials arrived.’

The heavyweight has family roots in the town of Sagamu in Ogun State, Nigeria, and has an African tattoo on his right shoulder.

It is believed that he was on holiday and went to see his relatives at the time of the accident.

A relative of Anthony Joshua, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC they were ‘shocked’ when they heard the news.

“We hope for a speedy recovery for him and those who lost their lives, and I pray that those who died rest in peace,” they said.

‘Normally he comes here at New Year. ‘We didn’t see him so we were waiting.’

Four hours ago, Joshua had shared a story on his Instagram account in which he was seen topless while playing table tennis with his long-time friend Ayodele.

He accompanied the clip with the message: ‘@healthy_mindset clearing the table tennis smoke.’

Photo of a truck that the strength and conditioning coach shared on Instagram before the group hit the road

Joshua was photographed with his entourage in Nigeria earlier this year; In the background, the Lexus was involved in the accident.

Joshua was expected to fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February next year after knocking out YouTuber Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami this month.

He had returned to England following his knockout victory ahead of a previously planned trip to Nigeria, where he was expected to stay for a week.

Joshua made £70 million from his fight with Paul, which was watched by more than 30 million people on Netflix.

The father of one emerged victorious as expected; He broke his opponent’s jaw in two places before the final knockout, but later said he should have won sooner.

Joshua confided in Paul when speaking to reporters following his victory, admitting it took “a little longer than expected” to stop the American.

‘It wasn’t the best performance,’ he said.

‘The ultimate goal was to catch Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him. That was the request and it was on my mind. It took a little longer than expected, but the right hand found its target.

‘Jake Paul did a really good job tonight, I want to give him props. He stood up again and again. It was hard for him to be there, but he kept trying to find a way out.

‘You’ve got to give Jake respect for trying and trying and trying. But tonight he faced a real fighter who took 15 months off.’

Joshua and his promoter Hearn have also looked to the future, urging Tyson Fury to sign on the dotted line and stage arguably the biggest fight in British boxing history.

Fury is expected to retire next year after quitting the sport following his second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in May 2024.

Hearn said: ‘Of course we want the Tyson Fury fight. This is the fight, the biggest fight.

Joshua was expected to fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February next year after knocking out YouTuber Jake Paul in the sixth round, pictured in Miami this month.

‘By the way, we can do this right away. There is no intermediate fight. If Tyson is ready and AJ is ready, we don’t need to fight in February or March. I think it says eight weeks, 24 hours to sign a contract.’

Before Joshua added: ‘The world’s best promoter talks to Turki [Al-Sheikh]His Excellency Riyadh Season and will now deliver these messages and speak to my training team.

‘I am a strong man. I want to continue, but the coaches, it’s up to them, they are the ones who guide me. Fighters will always fight, coaches are there to guide us.

‘They know what I’ve been through for the x number of weeks I’ve been with them, so it’s up to them to decide. They’ll talk to Eddie and hopefully I’ll have some news within a week.’