Charles Aniagwu, chairman media sub-committee of the ongoing 21st National Festival (NSF) in Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday evening, said there won’t be any hesitation in conducting an autopsy the unravel the true cause of death of Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, an Imo boxer who died after losing to his Delta State opponent
The late 25-year Igboanugo, a boxer with the Imo State contingent to the festival was said to have slumped and died after losing to Prince Gaby Amador who is from Team Delta.
He was reportedly knocked out in the 86kg bout by Amador and following the knockout loss, Igboanugo tried to walk out of the Asaba event centre, the venue of the bout but slumped, drawing the attention of medical personnel, who battled to restore him.
BusinessDay gathered that the doctors placed him on oxygen and tried to stablise him but he died before getting to the hospital.
He was well and okay and did not show any sign of distress, Akinyele Durotoye, Nigeria Boxing Federation Secretary General, had told journalists.
“His coach was with him but stepped out to get some equipment momentarily, unsuspecting the boxer was in danger.
It’s one of those tragedies we see at sports venues with athletes having underlying health condition. Unfortunately, we lost him but his death has nothing to do with the bout,” Durotoye said.
An official of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) however said that the boxing events would continue.
We have no reason to stop the bouts since it was an accident outside the ring, he said.
Besides, the medics and medical facilities are adequate to deal with any emergency,” the official added.
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Aniagwu at a media briefing held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Wednesday, said Igboanugo had been checked and report revealed that his Blood Pressure (BP) was not very okay.
He was told to return for another check before going in for the games but he couldn’t return.
Aniagwu however said it was noticed that he (Igboanugo) was bleeding from the nose after the game which was why he was taken to the referral centre (Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH) but on the way he was struggling like trying to fight back but couldn’t make it as he died before reaching the hospital
We have tried as much as possible to provide adequate facilities and medical personnel, he said, adding that there were four ambulances available to deal with emergency situations.
While commisserating with the family of the late Igboanugo and the Nigerian Federation of Boxers as well as sports lovers, over the boxer, Aniagwu said the federation and family of the deceased would give approval before an autopsy would be conducted, he said.
Reason for the autopsy is not to bring back the dead but to help prevent similar occurrences or such ugly situations in the future.
Meanwhile, Aniagwu who is the commissioner for information, Delta State, said that “we are still keeping track with our goal and desire to win. As at this afternoon, Team Delta has topped the medals table with 146 gold medals, Bayelsa coming second with 40 gold.
