Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has returned to the UK following a fatal car crash in his homeland, Nigeria, that tragically claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members. The incident occurred on Monday, December 29, when a Lexus SUV, in which the 36-year-old boxer was a passenger, collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, specifically the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and one of his trainers, Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Joshua himself sustained minor injuries, including a leg fracture, and was taken to a hospital before being discharged on Wednesday, New Year's Eve. He flew back to the United Kingdom on Saturday, ahead of the funerals for Ghami and Ayodele, which were scheduled to take place at a London mosque on Sunday.

The driver of the vehicle, 46-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged on Friday at Sagamu Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State. Police sources indicated the charges included causing death by dangerous driving. Kayode was granted bail of 5 million naira (£2,578) and remanded until his bail conditions are met, with the case adjourned until January 20.

Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, has deep family roots in Sagamu, a town in Ogun state, close to the crash site. He was reportedly on his way to visit relatives for New Year celebrations in the town at the time of the collision. The boxer had been spending time in Nigeria on holiday following his recent sixth-round knockout victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.

On Sunday, January 4, Joshua issued his first public update following the tragic event, sharing heartfelt posts across his social media platforms. He posted images on Instagram, including one where he sat alongside his mother and other women, one of whom held a photograph of Ghami. Another poignant photo showed him standing in solidarity with the families of Ghami and Ayodele. He captioned these posts with the simple yet powerful message, “My Brother’s Keeper ❤️🕊️❤️.”

Reports suggested that the accident was allegedly caused by brake failure. Furthermore, sources indicated that Joshua narrowly avoided more severe injury by moving from the front passenger seat to the back just moments before the collision. This move was reportedly at the driver's request, as Joshua's large frame was obstructing the side mirror view, a detail that may have significantly altered the outcome of his injuries, keeping his condition stable and not requiring emergency surgery.