No safeguards when kickboxer, 15, died
A 15-year-old three-time world kickboxing champion died from a severe traumatic brain injury after an unsanctioned fight which had no safeguards, a coroner has ruled.
Alex Eastwood suddenly collapsed after the charity bout in Wigan against a 17-year-old opponent and died three days later, on 29 June last year.
Coroner Michael Pemberton said the fight was unsanctioned and the safeguards that were meant to exist "simply didn't". He described the regulation of kickboxing as "chaotic and disjointed".
Alex's family said the inquest had made clear his death was "not a tragic accident", but was "a failure of safeguarding and regulation".
Mr Pemberton, who returned a finding of misadventure, had already taken the unusual step of writing a Prevention of Future Death Report airing his concerns about a lack of regulatory guidance in terms of any child combat sports.
He said: "During the course of this hearing the evidence has reflected a chaotic and somewhat disjointed approach in which I'm not satisfied participants or parents are made fully aware of the risks that may ensue."
Alex, who had just finished his GCSEs, fought three rounds at the TKMA Gym before becoming seriously unwell.
The coroner said emergency services had done everything they could to try to save Alex.
The coroner addressed the boy's parents who were in court, saying: "The circumstances of this tragic case have left many numb.
"I'm sure there will be an encore of issues to seek changes on as part of his legacy."
Mr Pemberton referred to the lack of pre-bout meeting between the fighters, referee and coaches to lay down the "ground rules" for the bout.
He said: "The planning of the event and lack of risk assessment was sub-optimal in this regard."
Outside the hearing, Alex's step-mother Nikita Eastwood said: "No child should go into a gym to do something they love and not come home.
"What happened to him was not just a tragic accident - the inquest has made clear to us that it was a failure of safeguarding, of responsibility, and of regulation.
"Alex died after a fight that we now see should never have happened."
She added: "There was no national governing body involvement, and no clear or enforced safety standards.
"His death must be a line in the sand so that these failures change.
"We urge those in power to act swiftly and decisively to prevent the risk of this happening to another child. There must be clear, enforceable, national protections for children in combat sports."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Kickboxer, 15, 'fought man, 34, week before death'
Kickboxer, 15, died after charity bout, inquest told
Coroner's child kickboxer death warning
Office of the Chief Coroner
Children's Commissioner for England
Department for Culture Media and Sport
Kickboxing GB
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
I moved my son out of New York to protect him when he was young — 14 years later, he was shot and killed there
My son was being bullied at school. I tried to spot it until one day he said he wanted to die. That was the final straw. I moved my family out of New York to Massachusetts to protect him. He was killed 14 years later in a mass shooting near the town we moved from. The irony was devastating. If there's one thing I have learned since losing my son Alex, it's that there are no perfect parents. We make the best, most loving decisions we can with what we know in the moment. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, life seems determined to break our hearts. I had Alex when I was 31 years old. He was a beautiful boy with copper-blonde hair and deep, sparkling green eyes. A wisp as a child, Alex searched for fairies in the yard and loved to read books in my lap, his tiny hand warm in mine. He lived for soccer, Star Wars, and digging in dirt. Looking back, I think I sensed his fragility and that he wouldn't be here for long. I was a journalist in Albany, New York, at the height of my career, balancing an investigative, law, and court beat with marriage and two young kids. Alex's sister Tori came along when he was 5. Alex did well until late middle school, when bullies began harassing him at school and on the bus, pushing him, refusing him a bus seat, and throwing things at him. We took the proper steps: calling the kids' parents, taking the school to task to put a stop to it, and going back again and again. However, the bullying continued. The bus would calm down. Then a gym class ramped up. It was relentless. Until the day Alex told us he couldn't take any more, and he wished he could die. I could have simply moved him to a different school and stayed in New York, but I was worn down from trying to stop the bullying and had had enough. I wanted to move back home to Massachusetts to be with my dying mother, and since that option also offered a reprieve for Alex, that's what we did. We sold our house, said our goodbyes, and began a fresh start in Massachusetts. Leaving everything we knew — the home we'd built, our friends, and careers — was painful, but worth it. Little did I know, I'd lose Alex 14 years later, near the same town I'd tried to protect him from. Years passed after our move to Massachusetts. We made new friends, rediscovered old ones, and got good jobs. Alex finished high school, enlisted in the Army, and was assigned to Fort Drum in Watertown, NY, just hours from our old place. He served two tours in Afghanistan, was decorated, and made us so proud. It had a price, though. He received massive injuries from raids, developed Sarcoidosis of the lungs from the burn pits (areas where waste is burned at military bases), and medically retired on full disability at 26. He came home damaged, a different person, and inadequately prepared for civilian life. We loved having Alex home, but the transition was hard. He held a few jobs over the next few years and moved out on his own. However, his lung disease progressed rapidly, and soon, work was impossible. His depression deepened. By this time, I was divorced, and he had moved in with Tori and me so we could help him. Shortly before his death in 2021, Alex, then 29, was accepted into a two-week veterans' inpatient program at a Boston hospital to explore health solutions. Finally, we'd get some answers. However, hope was short-lived. The stay was canceled at the last minute due to missing paperwork that Veterans Affairs had not submitted on his behalf. Alex was crushed after waiting so long for assistance. He just could not catch a break. So, he decided to go visit his dad and some friends near our old upstate NY neighborhood for the weekend. He was killed the next day in a mass shooting outside an Albany bar. The irony was devastating. I moved our family away from a threat to Alex's life in NY, only to lose him there anyway. I will never forget the 2 a.m. call from the Albany Police that took part of me, too. I regret being forced to leave the lives we loved because of merciless bullying and the suffering it caused. I regret being robbed of the innocence and happiness we had before this complete and devastating circle of sadness. However, I am also grateful that by moving from the threat, we had another 14 years together as a family, never knowing that our son would leave as he did. Gaining more time with this amazing human in our lives, in either place, was a precious gift I could never regret. Read the original article on Business Insider
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Teen lifeguard impaled by umbrella pole on Asbury Park, N.J. beach says she was "just trying not to freak out"
A New Jersey lifeguard who was impaled by an umbrella left a hospital on Thursday and later recounted the terrifying ordeal. Asking to be identified only as "Alex," the 18-year-old shared a hospital photo of her holding up a piece of the pole that went through her arm on Asbury Park Beach on Wednesday. "It missed almost everything important, so no nerves, tendons or arteries were hit," Alex said in a phone interview with CBS News New York's Christine Sloan. She said she knows she's lucky to be alive after the 6-foot umbrella pole went through her armpit. "The pole was very close to, um, major blood vessels. I was told, like, it was a half a centimeter away from at least one major blood vessel," Alex said. Here's what she says happened The second-year college student said she was tying the umbrella to the lifeguard stand to shield herself from the intense heat, when the bizarre accident occurred. "But our rope was frayed ... too short to tie," she said. "A gust of wind came and moved the umbrella off of the stand. I went to catch it and it pulled me off the stand with it and I landed on the pole." Alex said fellow lifeguards had to hold the open umbrella and pole steady so it wouldn't do more damage. Paramedics quickly arrived. "Going to need that bandsaw for sure down here," she recounted one of the first responders saying. "They took a bandsaw and cut both ends so there was less pole sticking out of me, so they could transport me easier." Alex somehow kept calm during the entire ordeal Kate Hagerman, of the lifeguard station at Asbury Beach Park, said she was stunned by what happened, and was even more surprised by how Alex handled it. "She was very calm. She stayed calm throughout the whole thing and alert, too, which is crazy usually. If I was in that situation, I was, but I think as a lifeguard that is very important and shows a lot about her character," Hagerman said. When asked how she kept her composure, Alex said, "I have no idea. I was just trying not to freak out. I feel like I am that kind of person where panicking, I am just calm." Alex said she's grateful to fellow lifeguards and the paramedics, and plans on going back to her lifeguard duties after her six-week recovery because her job is rewarding.
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Motor 1
'This Is Why I Have an 04 Camry:' Man Takes Ford F-250 to San Antonio. Then He Sees What Happened to It in the Hotel Parking Lot
When the owner of a Ford F-250 walked out of his hotel one morning, the truck was exactly where he left it—except for one small detail: the tail lights were gone, cleanly removed. No glass, no wires, just two neat holes where $1,000 worth of lighting used to be. That's what happened to online creator Alex (@3.6slowvvt_) during a recent overnight stay in San Antonio. In a TikTok clip that's been viewed more than 184,000 times, viewers see that his Platinum edition F-250 has had its tail lights removed. News reports in San Antonio recounted a rash of recent tail light robberies in the area. Why are People Stealing Tail Lights? Tail lights from trucks like the Ford F-Series are surprisingly valuable. Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) sets can fetch several hundred to over $1,000 apiece , and in some higher trim models, replacement can cost even more. They're also relatively easy to remove : thieves only need to open the tailgate and undo a few screws, with no heavy tools or complex hacking required. Once removed, tail lights are typically not traceable, making them ideal for quick thefts. Alex's situation isn't an isolated TikTok incident. It's part of a growing wave of vehicle part stripping affecting truck owners nationwide. In the Houston area, police recently uncovered a theft ring responsible for stealing tail lights from 34 Ford trucks over four months between September 2024 and January 2025, with the stolen parts valued at more than $92,000. More on Ford's Tail Light Problem Police Are Fixing Ford's Taillight Theft Problem Thieves Have a New Target: Ford F-Series Taillights While catalytic converter thefts have dominated headlines in recent years, law enforcement agencies nationwide are increasingly reporting a shift toward more discrete, high-value parts. Tail lights, bumpers, and grilles—especially from full-size trucks—are now common targets , as Motor1 has reported before. These components are easy to remove, often untraceable, and in high demand, making them attractive to thieves seeking quick payoffs with lower risk of detection. Ford Super Duty and F-150 trucks are disproportionately affected by this type of theft, in part because of their widespread use among contractors, farmers, and outdoor enthusiasts, groups that keep demand for replacement parts, especially tail lights, consistently high. The design of these trucks also makes them more vulnerable. OEM parts are modular and carry significant resale value, further incentivizing theft. Additionally, the trucks' elevated ride height provides easier access for thieves to reach and remove components like tail lights without much effort or visibility, especially in poorly lit or unsecured parking areas. What Can I Do to Protect My Car? While these kinds of activities can spread to just about any area, Texas authorities have seen enough incidents already to offer some preventative guidance : Park strategically: choose well-lit, secure locations; front-in spots near building entrances are ideal. Lock screw access points: installing tamper-proof screws or bolt kits makes removal far more difficult. Secure your tailgate: thieves often gain access through unlocked tailgates—secure yours. Install surveillance: Dashcams with motion sensors or rear-facing cameras can act as deterrents and evidence collectors. Equip vehicle alarms: systems with tilt or movement sensors increase the risk of detection during tampering. Engrave parts: Marking lights with unique identifiers can aid in recovery if stolen. Insurance Options Comprehensive auto insurance policies typically cover the cost of tail light theft and other non-collision damages, under the 'other than collision' or vandalism coverage segment. However, policyholders should be prepared to pay their deductible—from $0 to $2,000—before their insurer covers the remaining repair costs. Given the surge in demand for replacement parts like truck tail lights, owners may also experience delays in getting replacements if parts are back‑ordered, resulting in longer wait times for repairs. Law enforcement agencies frequently advise owners to engrave their VIN or photograph parts, such as tail lights or glass, before installation. This practice helps substantiate insurance claims and can improve recovery chances if stolen parts are located. VIN‑etching of windows and components has been credited with increasing the odds of recovering stolen vehicles by authorities. Motor1 reached out to Alex via direct message. Now Trending 'It Saved Me Money:' Woman Goes to Discount Tire for New Tires. Then She Pulls Out Her Costco Card 'I've Already Made A Payment:' Woman Purchases Lexus RX 350 from Carvana. Then They Send Her Another One Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
