More details of victims in Anthony Joshua car crash emerge after two fellow passengers sitting near boxing star killed

TWO men killed in a horror crash involving superstar boxer Anthony Joshua were foreign nationals, Nigerian officials said.

The former heavyweight champ, 36, was rushed to hospital with minor injuries after the horrific accident, with two other passengers confirmed to have “escaped unhurt.”

Anthony Joshua reacts after the deadly accident

A dramatic car crash in Nigeria with a severely damaged vehicle on the right, and a police car on the left, surrounded by onlookers.

Images released by authorities show the SUV’s demolished front-end

Collage of an image of a car crash and a map of Nigeria showing the crash location.

The fatal melee occurred on one of Nigeria’s deadliest roads when the driver reportedly attempted an “overtaking manoeuvre” before the tyre burst, causing the SUV to collide with a stationary truck, according to the Times.

What we know so far…

Boxing superstar Anthony Joshua was involved in a horrific car accident that killed two.

The cause of the crash emerges after Joshua is rushed to hospital.

The boxing star is seen smiling in an Instagram video just hours before the fatal accident.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn released a concerned statement after hearing the news on holiday.

Joshua was travelling on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the state of Ogun when the crash occurred at around 12pm local time (11am GMT.)

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Shocking footage shows concerned onlookers helping the wounded star from the Lexus Jeep as the Brit gingerly pushes his way off seats strewn with shattered glass.

Nigeria‘s Federal Road Safety Corps say the crash occurred while the vehicle was suspected to be travelling “beyond the legally prescribed speed limit”.

In an X post, they wrote: “The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways.”

It is understood no family were on the trip with Anthony Joshua who is believed to have been sitting behind the driver at the time of the crash.

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A relative told the BBC that the crash news has “come to the family as a shock”.

They added: “We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away – I pray for the departed to rest in peace.”

Joshua was reportedly rescued from the wrecked motor by security personnel travelling with him.

The Sun understands that the boxing star landed in Nigeria for a week’s holiday just days after his mega-money bout with Youtuber-turned-superstar boxer Jake Paul.

Paul reacted to the tragic crash on X, writing: “Life is much more important than boxing.

“I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”

The boxer was helped from the mangled wreck by concerned onlookers

Crowds gathered around the scene of the incident

A person inside a black car with a blue siren on top, indicating an emergency or official vehicle.

The boxing great was driven to hospital by authorities

He is believed to have been travelling from Lagos to the family home when the accident occurred.

Joshua attended a boarding school in Ikenne, 53 miles from where the crash happened, before returning to Britain at age 12.

The former champ is proud of his African heritage and has a map of the continent inked on his right shoulder, with Nigeria clearly outlined.

His relative added: ” He’s normally coming around for the New Year. We haven’t seen him so we were expecting him.”

Emergency responders rushed to the site of the crash as crowds formed around the scene of the fatal accident.

State police commissioner Langre Ogunluwo said: “I can confirm an accident occurred and Anthony Joshua has been taken to hospital.

“A vehicle rammed into a stationary vehicle.

“Unfortunately, there were two fatalities”

A witness 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.”

He added: “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.

“The passenger beside the driver and [the one beside] Joshua died on the spot.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told the Daily Mail that he was away on a family holiday when he woke up to the news.

He added: “We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images.

“We are awaiting more information on what has happened and will update in due course.”

The boxing great posted a video on social media only four hours before showing him enjoying a game of table tennis with friend Abdul Latif.

The accompanying caption read: “@healthy_mindset dishing out table tennis smoke.”

It comes just days after the heavyweight knocked out Jake Paul, 28, in six rounds while brutally breaking the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s jaw in two places.

The Miami mismatch was viewed by 33million on Netflix – with AJ already lined up for a return in Riyadh in February or March.

Overturned truck on a highway after a car crash.

The cart carrying Joshua collided with a stationary truck

Road crash scene with a red truck, broken glass, and people in safety vests on a highway in Nigeria.

The vehicle was parked on the busy Lagos-Ibadan highway