Coroner issues prevention of future death report over regulation in child contact sports after death of 15-year-old kickboxing world champion

HM Assistant Coroner Michael Pemberton has taken the unusual step of issuing the report ahead of a full inquest into the death of Liverpool champion kickboxer Alex Eastwood, who died aged 15 after suffering a head injury while taking part in an unsanctioned kickboxing fight. 

Alex had fought three individual rounds of a bout at a kickboxing gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan on 29 June 2024 before becoming seriously unwell.   

At a pre-inquest review hearing on Wednesday 12 March 2025, Mr Pemberton said he was concerned there was no regulatory framework or guidance in terms of any child contact sports.

He has now issued the Regulation 28 recommendation to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will have to respond to the report within 56 days, ahead of the full inquest into Alex’s death, which is expected to be held over four days in early June 2025.

In his report, Mr Pemberton says:  

“Under current circumstances, arrangements for each, and every contact sport contest involving a child, is left to the judgement of an organiser who may have recourse to principles provided by a sports association, if the match is to meet official status. If a match is unofficial or unsanctioned, there is no guideline of what minimum standard must be met to provide safeguarding for a child participant.”

He said this includes:  

• no minimum standard of what medical support may be required
• maximum rounds or periods of rest 
• welfare checks on participants being undertaken
• no risk assessment and critical incident plan 

His concerns in Alex’s inquest relate specifically to kickboxing but Mr Pemberton says:

“the identified issues appear to be of wider significance in terms of ‘contact’ sports involving children”. 

Alex was initially taken to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan and was then transferred to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) after he was found to have a bleed on the brain. He underwent surgery but died in hospital on 2 July 2024.

Alex’s family, who live in Fazakerley, have raised concerns about the safety measures and precautions in place around his fight on 29 June 2024, as well as the regulation around child combat sports more generally.  

Alex’s family are represented by Thomas Jervis and Jill Paterson, personal injury solicitors at law firm Leigh Day. 

Alex’s family said:  

“We are grateful the coroner has acted so quickly to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report. 

“The sooner children are made safer in any sporting arena, the better.  We don’t want other families to suffer in the way that we have. The loss of Alex continues to be unbearable to his family. We have to find a way to live without him every day, and it is not getting any easier right now. Knowing that concerns have been raised regarding the regulation of combat sports involving children is a small comfort to us.”

Leigh Day partner Jill Paterson said:  

“Alex’s family are really keen to hear what the Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy, has to say in response to this important Prevention of Future Deaths report in the hope that no other family has to go through the heartache that they have. Children across the country are taking part in combat sports every day. It’s incredibly important that the coroner’s concerns are addressed urgently.” 

A copy of the report has been sent by Mr Pemberton to Hurricane Combat & Fitness, Kickboxing GB, UK Sport and the Children’s Commissioner for England. 

This news article was updated 15 April 2025