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BBC News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Alex Eastwood: 'Our son's kickboxing death must lead to change'
Moments before 15-year-old Alex Eastwood headed down to the ring to compete in a charity kickboxing match, his father gave him a kiss and told him he loved Eastwood, 40, never imagined this would be the last conversation he had with his champion kickboxer collapsed after the third and final bout of the match and died three days later in hospital. After it came to light that he had been competing in an unsanctioned family, his family launched a campaign for change in his memory. During his inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court, Michael Pemberton, assistant coroner for Manchester West, concluded Alex died through said neither Alex, nor his parents, appreciated the dangers of the "chaotic and somewhat disjointed" approach to children involved in combat described the planning and lack of risk assessment before the fatal bout as "sub-optimal".Alex fell in love with kickboxing after he started training at Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Liverpool at the age of nine and had a "meteoric" rise in the sport, his inquest heard. The teenager, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, who had just finished his GCSEs, had agreed to take part in the charity fundraiser fight at TKMA Gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan, on 29 June 2024 .The bout was to be the "main event", but it was an unsanctioned match, the inquest heard. Tragedy struck when Alex collapsed after the third and final two-minute round of the "light contact" kickboxing match against a 17-year-old opponent. Mr Eastwood told the inquest he "shouted that his son's head guard had come loose" in the second round, which was said he noticed his son's movements had become "slower" and he was "holding the rope" in the third round. Speaking to BBC North West Tonight, Mr Eastwood said: "I looked at Nikita [Alex's step-mother] and across the room and shook my head as if to say 'what have we just witnessed?'"He recalled how his son, who trained five times a week, appeared "sluggish and wasn't himself" before he "started throwing punches into thin air".His father said no-one seemed to react to what was unfolding in front of their eyes as he remembered rushing to his son's side to put him in a recovery position. "I just thought 'why is no-one else reacting to this? Am I seeing this straight? This isn't normal'," said Mrs Eastwood. Alex was taken to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan where doctors confirmed he had catastrophic brain damage and was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for surgery but he died on 2 July 2024 with his father at his bedside. "From that point on there've just been questions of what, why, and trying to move forward with some sort of life, which is very difficult at the moment," his father a pre-inquest hearing into his death, Mr Pemberton took the unusual step of filing a Prevention of Future Death report as he said he was concerned there was no regulatory guidance for any child combat sports. "To be told as parents that children are fighting in unregulated and unsanctioned fights and we don't know – it's shocking," said Mr Eastwood."We put him in a sport to help him, make him better in life and I'll never see him again now because of that sport."Alex's family said the government needed to step in to regulate the sport to make it safer for children, adding there needed to be clear, enforceable, national protections for children's combat sports."It's a great sport for people – but as long as everyone comes home safe," said Mr Eastwood."It's not at the moment, because Alex hasn't come home safe."Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Whilst the government does not, and should not, directly regulate sport, it is clear lessons must be learned."She said her department was "exploring ways to improve the safety and welfare of children in martial arts".Additional reporting by PA Media. Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Team GB hopeful kickboxer, 15, died three days after head injury suffered in ‘unsanctioned' fight as dad pays tribute
A TEENAGE kickboxer tipped as a future Team GB athlete died three days after suffering a head injury in a charity fight. Alex Eastwood, 15, tragically passed away from the injuries he sustained during the kickboxing event on June 29 last year. 4 4 4 The teenager was rushed to hospital after collapsing during the unsanctioned bout at a kickboxing gym in Wigan, Lancashire. It is understood that, if the fight had been sanctioned by kickboxing authorities, the two boys would not have been allowed to fight one another. Alex was taken to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, where a CT scan revealed he had suffered a brain bleed. He was placed into an induced coma and later transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, his condition worsened and he tragically died a short time later in hospital on July 2. Giving a heartfelt tribute at Alex's inquest, his father Stephen Eastwood praised him as a "beautiful soul". Speaking at Bolton Coroner's Court, he said: "He was a lovely boy. "I'd just like people to remember him as the wonderful, beautiful soul that he was. "He was a beautiful, beautiful soul and I want everybody to know that." Talented Alex was a member of the Hurricane Combat and Fitness club, where he achieved a black belt in kickboxing. The teen sensation was due to compete in the World Championships in Portugal in October 2024, having already secured six wins during his burgeoning career. Mr Eastwood recounted the horrifying moment Alex collapsed in the ring and "slumped over the ropes". Bodybuilder dies aged 30 after collapsing during competition as horrified spectators look on He added: "If I recall correctly, his head guard came loose a few times in the second round. "I did shout at him a few times because it had come loose in that round. "At the end of the fight he was holding onto one of the ropes, head down. "We knew he had lost the fight. He turned to face the corner of the ring. "The opponent approached to shake Alex's hand. Alex just made a gesture. "Within seconds, Alex walked to the ropes, started punching the air, and slumped over." The match he participated in consisted of three two-minute, light contact rounds. But it did not have official sanctioning by a UK kickboxing authority. Representing Alex's family, barrister Adam Korn said: "Had this been a sanctioned event, these boys would never have been put in the ring together." 4
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Kickboxer, 15, had fought man, 34, week before fatal bout, inquest hears
A coroner has told an inquest he was 'shocked' that a 15-year-old kickboxer who died after a bout had fought a 34-year-old man the week before. Alex Eastwood, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, collapsed after the third and final two-minute round of a 'light contact' kickboxing match against a 17-year-old opponent in a ring at a gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan, on June 29 2024. He was rushed to hospital but had suffered a serious head injury and died three days later. Unusually, Michael Pemberton, assistant coroner for Manchester (West), ahead of Alex's inquest, which started on Monday, had already raised concerns with the Government in March this year about the safety of children in combat sports and the apparent lack of regulation and safeguarding measures. Alex took up kickboxing aged nine, trained five times a week and had a 'meteoric' rise in the sport, having competed at high levels, Bolton Coroner's Court heard. He had grown to 6ft 7in, weighed 80kg and had just finished his GCSEs the week before the fight was arranged with another opponent at the gym in Wigan. The bout was to be the 'main event' but was an unofficial or unsanctioned event as it was a charity fundraiser, not a title fight under the main governing body for the sport in the UK, Kickboxing GB. Ian Hollett, who was Alex's coach and chief instructor at the gym where he trained, Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Liverpool, said his club was not affiliated to Kickboxing GB and there were no rules which stated clubs had to be recognised by governing bodies. Mr Hollett, who said he had more than 30 years' experience in martial arts and was a 16-times world champion, set up his gym in 2011 and currently has around 400 child members. He said they had only had a safeguarding officer in place since 2024 and this is carried out by a member of the club who happens to be a social worker. The coroner then asked about a tournament Alex took part in the previous weekend, where he fought a 34-year-old man in a 'light contact' competition. The event was run by the BCKA (British Chinese Kickboxing Association), a franchise, Mr Hollett said, where Alex fought eight or nine single elimination rounds. Coroner Mr Pemberton said: 'How do you have a situation where a 15-year-old child faces an adult in a contact sport?' Mr Hollett said 'discussions' about Alex competing against adults had started with his father and other coaches the previous year. He continued: 'He had not been beat for two years, he progressed rapidly, it is a customary thing that happens in our sport.' 'That's what worries me,' the coroner replied. 'You have a child fighting an adult. If that happened in the street it would be very serious. How is it acceptable?' Mr Hollett said: 'He was untouchable, pretty much. He was exceptionally developed physically, technically excellent.' He said Alex had fought adult opponents earlier in the year and although his own club and gym no longer allow such bouts, only one national body, the International Combat Organisation (ICO), has outlawed the practice. Mr Hollett added: 'Every other governing body would and has and does allow it.' The coroner replied: 'I'm quite shocked by that, I have to say. I'm not often shocked.' Mr Hollett said he was not present for any pre-bout meeting with the two fighters, referee and any other coaches to set the 'ground rules' for how much contact was to be allowed. The coroner said both Alex and his opponent had won world championship titles, it was the 'main event' of the night and the objective was to win. He continued: 'But no meeting before to put down ground rules, 'This is just an exhibition match, lads, keep that in mind?'' Mr Hollett said: 'At any competition they are trying to win. The framework is, they are not trying to knock each other out.' Dale Bannister, event organiser and owner of the TKMA gym where the bout took place, said the 'ground rules' for the match had been agreed between himself and Alex's other coach Daniel Wigelsworth as a 'light contact' fight. But as Mr Wigelsworth said 'Alex can bang' they agreed to 'let it go a bit' on the understanding neither boxer was allowed to win by a knock-out, or stoppage, that is by fighting the opponent into submission. Adam Korn, legal counsel representing the Eastwood family, suggested the fight was in a 'grey area' between light and heavier contact allowed. Mr Bannister said: 'Some are rougher than others. You can see if a fighter is trying to knock someone out.' Earlier this year the coroner wrote a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Government about the lack of regulation of contact sports for children, with no minimum standards or risk management. The inquest continues on Wednesday.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Alex Eastwood: Kickboxer, 15, 'fought man, 34, week before death'
A coroner has told an inquest he was "shocked" to learn that a 15-year-old kickboxer who died after a bout had fought a 34-year-old man the week Eastwood, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, collapsed after the third and final two-minute round of a "light contact" kickboxing match against a 17-year-old opponent in a ring at a gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan, on June 29 was taken to hospital but had suffered a serious head injury and died three days took up kickboxing aged nine, trained five times a week and had a "meteoric" rise in the sport, having competed at high levels, the inquest into Alex's death heard. He had grown to 6ft 7in (2.04m), weighed 12.5 stone (80kg) and had just finished his GCSEs when the fight was arranged with another opponent at the gym in Pemberton, assistant coroner for Manchester West, had already raised concerns with the government in March about the safety of children in combat sports and the apparent lack of regulation and safeguarding measures. Ian Hollett, who was Alex's coach and chief instructor at the gym where he trained, Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Liverpool, said he had more than 30 years' experience in martial arts and his gym currently had around 400 child told Bolton Coroner's Court the gym had only had a safeguarding officer in place since 2024 - a member of the club who happened to be a social worker. 'Untouchable' When asked how Alex came to fight a 34-year-old man in a competition the week before the fatal fight, Mr Hollett said "discussions" about Alex competing against adults had started with his father and other coaches the previous continued: "He had not been beat for two years, he progressed rapidly, it is a customary thing that happens in our sport.""That's what worries me," the coroner replied."You have a child fighting an adult. If that happened in the street it would be very serious. How is it acceptable?"Mr Hollett said: "He was untouchable, pretty much. He was exceptionally developed physically, technically excellent."He said Alex had fought adult opponents earlier in the year and although his own club and gym no longer allow such bouts, only one national body, the International Combat Organisation, had outlawed the Hollett added: "Every other governing body would and has and does allow it."The coroner replied: "I'm quite shocked by that, I have to say. I'm not often shocked."The inquest continues on Wednesday. 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.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Father of kickboxer, 15, breaks down in tears at inquest as he reveals how 'beautiful son' suddenly collapsed moments after unsanctioned fight and died three days later
A tearful father told an inquest how his 15-year-old 'beautiful son' suddenly collapsed after an unsanctioned kickboxing match. Stephen Eastwood, 40, from Liverpool, said he stayed with his son Alex Eastwood at his hospital bedside until he passed away three days after the fatal bout. He told Bolton Coroner's Court: 'I would just like people to remember him as a wonderful, beautiful son. He was just a lovely, lovely boy. He was a beautiful soul.' Alex collapsed after the third and final round of a 'light contact' kickboxing bout in a ring at a gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan on June 29, 2024. He was rushed to hospital but had suffered a serious head injury. Unusually, Michael Pemberton, assistant coroner for Manchester (West), ahead of Alex's inquest, which started on Monday, has already raised concerns with the government in March this year about the safety of children in combat sports. Alex took up kickboxing aged nine, trained five times a week at Hurricane Combat and Fitness club in Fazakerley, Liverpool and had a 'meteoric' rise in the sport, having competed at high levels. He had grown to 6ft 7ins, weighed 80kg and had just finished his GCSEs the week before the fight was arranged with another opponent at the gym in Wigan. A tearful father told an inquest how his 15-year-old 'beautiful son' suddenly collapsed after an unsanctioned kickboxing match. Stephen Eastwood, 40, from Liverpool, said he stayed with his son Alex Eastwood (pictured) at his hospital bedside until he passed away three days after the fatal bout The bout was to be the 'main event' but was an unofficial or unsanctioned event as it was a charity fundraiser, not a bout to win a title under the main governing body for the sport in the UK, Kickboxing GB. Alex, who was wearing a headguard, suddenly became unwell after the end of the third and final, two-minute round. Father-of-three Mr Eastwood said he noticed his son, 'not looking right' as he held on to the ropes to make his way back to his corner. He added: 'I have run, dived into the ring under the ropes landed on my back. I have grabbed hold of my son, holding on to him, laid him on the ring. 'At that point, it just turned into a chaotic scene. You had two first aiders in the ring, I was pacing around using profanities and swearing. 'My son's breathing was like a big bulldog on a sunny day, struggling. He did have what seemed like a seizure. It felt like a lifetime, sir.' Paramedics arrived and took the teenager first to hospital in Wigan and then on to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where surgeons were waiting to operate. But it was discovered he had suffered catastrophic brain damage and bleeding. Mr Eastwood said he, Alex's step-mother Nikita, his two siblings and other family spent time with him at the hospital. His father stayed with him at his bedside until he died on July 2, last year. His organs were donated. Daniel Wigelsworth, one of Alex's coaches at Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Liverpool, said he was party to arrangements for the bout Alex took part in, along with Dale Bannister, owner of the TKMA gym in Wigan, which was setting up a charity event. They arranged the fight with Alex's opponent, who has not been named, as a 'good match up' in terms of weight, age and skill. The inquest also heard there did not appear to be any definitive rules on the length of rounds and Mr Wigelsworth said the rules are 'unclear' with different interpretations of 'light contact' rules during bouts, it being left to coaches and referees. Mr Wigelsworth said he believed Alex's opponent was a year older than him, but in fact was two years his senior. The inquest heard competitions, exhibition events and 'fight nights' can be put on by individual clubs and independent promoters, and the governing body does not sanction fundraising events. Gordon Mitchell, director at Kickboxing GB, said the sport has a number of governing bodies that sanction fights but Kickboxing GB is the only one in the UK recognised by Sport England, the body supporting grassroots sport, and the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) which is itself recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Mr Mitchell said Kickboxing GB would never sanction 'light contact' bouts in a boxing ring due to safety reasons and these only take place outside a ring on mats. He said this is because it is easier to stop a fight on mats, by stepping off the mat, for example, if there is a mismatch. But he said in a bout in a ring, 'you are stuck between the ropes' and reliant on the referee to step in to stop a fight. 'There's more rules about stopping the fight early, on mats,' Mr Mitchell said. Adam Korn, a solicitor representing the Eastwood family, said despite these rules, unsanctioned, exhibition or 'fight night' bouts are frequently held up and down the country. Mr Korn said: 'Is that a concern to you?' 'Yes,' Mr Mitchell said. Mr Mitchell said he was aware of one other combat-related child death in the UK. Earlier this year the coroner wrote a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the government about the lack of regulation of contact sports for children, with no minimum standards or risk management. The inquest continues on Tuesday morning.
