No safeguards in place when teenage kickboxer died, coroner finds

A 15-year-old three-time world kickboxing champion died from a severe traumatic brain injury after an unsanctioned bout that lacked basic safety measures, a coroner has found.

Alex Eastwood, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, collapsed following a charity match at TKMA Gym in Wigan, where he faced a 17-year-old opponent.

He died three days later, on 29 June last year.

Coroner Michael Pemberton recorded a verdict of misadventure, stating that the safeguards that were meant to be in place “simply didn’t” exist.

He described the regulation of kickboxing as “chaotic and disjointed”.

Alex had just completed his GCSEs at Archbishop Beck RC High School when he took part in the three-round bout and became seriously unwell.

Following the inquest, his family said the hearing had shown his death was “not a tragic accident”, but a “failure of safeguarding and regulation”.

Mr Pemberton had already taken the unusual step of issuing a Prevention of Future Deaths report, raising concerns about the lack of regulatory guidance in 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.”

The inquest heard there was no pre-bout meeting between the fighters, coaches, and referee to agree ground rules.

Gym owner Dale Bannister said the fight had been agreed as “light contact” via social media messages with Alex’s coach. Mr Pemberton, however, described the planning and lack of risk assessment as “sub-optimal”.

He noted that emergency services did everything possible to try to save Alex’s life.

Addressing the family directly, Mr Pemberton said: “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.”

Speaking outside the hearing, Alex’s stepmother 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 said there had been no involvement from a national governing body and no clear or enforced safety standards.

She added: “Alex’s death must be a line in the sand so that these failures change.”

The family has called for “national protections for children in combat sports”.

Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, has written to the coroner and said officials in her department are now looking into how best to address the concerns raised around the safety of children in combat sports.

Ian Hollett, Alex’s coach from Hurricane Combat and Fitness, said the club was “utterly devastated” by the loss of a “wonderful, kind and exceptionally talented boy”.

He said: “We thank the coroner for his thorough investigation and fully welcome any recommendations made that will help prevent another tragedy like this happening again.”

The club’s solicitor, David Pearson, added: “This unimaginable tragedy has brought into sharp focus the need for further regulation in all combat sports involving children across the country.”

Kickboxing GB, one of the sport’s governing bodies, confirmed it had not sanctioned the Wigan event, but said it had assisted with the inquest.