There were “no guidelines for health and safety” at the kickboxing match that led to Alex’s death
A coroner has expressed his shock over an apparent lack of regulations in kickboxing following the tragic death of 15-year-old Alex Eastwood. Alex, from Fazakerley, suffered a head injury while competing in an unsanctioned bout.
The Archbishop Beck Catholic College pupil had fought three individual rounds at the TKMA gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan, before collapsing on June 29 last year. He was taken to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, where he was placed in an induced coma.
He was transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for a brain bleed. Sadly, his condition deteriorated and he died on July 2.
On the second day of his inquest at Bolton coroner’s court today, June 10, the court heard there were “no guidelines for health and safety”. However, organisers would try to abide by the rules of the governing authorities.
TKMA gym owner Dale Bannister, who organised the charity event, approached the Lancashire Ambulance Service about medical assistance, and it was arranged for two first-responders to be on-hand throughout the show.
Coroner Michael Pemberton asked: “In your view was that sufficient medical cover for you to feel confident that any unforeseen event could be adequately covered?”
Mr Bannister said: “Yes, I assumed because it was not full contact (fighting with the aim of a knock-out), that was all I needed.” Competitors also had to complete a “fit to fight” form confirming they had not been knocked out in 40 days.
The match was arranged to be “light contact” with an emphasis on controlled strikes, technique and out-pointing the opponent. Alex’s coach Dan Wigglesworth messaged Mr Bannister: “Will it be it be strict light contact or let it go a bit because Alex does bang TBF (to be fair)”.
Mr Bannister replied: “We can let it go a bit but no stoppage wins (knock-outs).” Both Alex and his opponent were said to be strong fighters, both achieving world championship titles.
The court previously heard that kickboxing authorities, such as Kickboxing GB, usually only sanctioned large competitions and shows, and that it was up to individual promoters to regulate their own events.
However, it was understood clubs should continue to abide by the rules of the governing authorities even during unsanctioned matches, such as the one on June 29.
Ian Hollett, owner of Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Fazakerley where Alex trained, said kickboxing clubs were not required to register with governing authorities, and that many were independently-run and regulated – including Hurricane Fitness.
When questioned by the coroner, he said the club did not have a safeguarding policy until January 2024, adding: “We have a social worker that looks at our policy – one of the members of the club is a social worker. We got that in January 2024 and we have updated that every year.”
When asked how long children had been attending the club, he said “since its inception” in 2001. Alex’s stepmum left the courtroom in tears as she heard how 400 children had undergone training at the club, which Mr Pemberton described as “not regulated”.
Further concerns were raised as, on June 22 2024, one week before the fatal match, Alex took part in an unsanctioned tournament-style competition in which he faced an adult opponent.
Mr Pemberton said: “How do we find a 15-year-old child pitted against a 30-year-old man? This is an unsanctioned match, an unregulated match, and your club is not part of any governing body. That’s why this is important.”
Mr Hollett said: “(Alex) was untouchable pretty much. He was extremely developed physically. Technically he was excellent. He had started in January in point fighting and had competed against adults in other governing bodies’ events.
“Children at Kickboxing GB have competed against adults in events. Since Alex’s passing it’s something that we don’t allow. It’s something we feel strongly about as well.”
He added that only one governing authority, the ICO (the International Combat Organisation), had banned children from competing against adults at the time. Mr Pemberton said: “I’m quite shocked by that, I have to say.”
Mr Hollett went on to explain that there were no specific regulations in place to secure safeguarding in cases children competing with adults. Mr Pemberton said: “I’m not often shocked.”
The coroner previously issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Department For Culture, Media And Sport over the lack of guidance and regulation in contact sports involving children.
The report read: “No base line or minimum standards of what safeguarding or necessary risk management is set out for those who plan or organise an ‘official’ or ‘unofficial’ match where physical force may be used between or against a child participant.
“Under current circumstance, 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 standards must be met to provide safeguarding for a child participant.
“This includes no minimum standard of what medical support may be required, maximum rounds or periods of rest, welfare checks on participants being undertaken, (and) no risk assessment and critical incident plan.”
The inquest continues.
