Published 3 days ago • loading... • Updated 2 days ago

Coroner Rules on Death of Young Kickboxer in Unsanctioned Match - Liverpool Echo

Alex Eastwood, a 15-year-old kickboxer from Fazakerley who had won three world titles, collapsed during a light-contact charity match on June 29, 2024, at a gym in Wigan and passed away three days later due to a severe traumatic brain injury.
The unsanctioned bout was arranged between coaches via social media with agreed rules against knockouts, but no official regulation or minimum safety standards governed the event.
Coroner Michael Pemberton described the planning as inadequate, highlighting a lack of risk assessment and regulations for children’s combat sports, and called the approach to safeguarding 'chaotic and somewhat disjointed'.
Mr Pemberton concluded that Alex’s death was accidental, resulting from a severe brain injury likely incurred during the third round. In March, he submitted a report raising concerns and recommendations to the government department responsible for culture, media, and sports.
Alex’s family and officials, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, are calling on the government to urgently introduce standardized and enforceable safeguards for young participants in combat sports to prevent future incidents like this tragic case.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

10 Articles

All

Left

Center

Right

CBC News

Lean Left

This championship kickboxer got her start by saying ‘sure b’y’ when asked if she wanted to fight

Isabelle Quinton is powering her way through the competition. She won gold at the national championships, is headed to Turkey for the world cup, and has much more ahead of her. The CBC’s Jeremy Eaton caught up with Quinton, where he saw (and felt) what she could do.

2 days ago·Canada

Read Full Article