Family handoutA 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 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 taken to hospital but had suffered a serious head injury and died three days later.
Alex 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 Wigan.
Michael 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 members.
He 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 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, had 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.”
The inquest continues on Wednesday.