Parents seek reforms after kickboxer teenager's death

The parents of a teenage kickboxer, Alex Eastwood, are speaking out after their son died from a brain injury. Alex collapsed during an unsanctioned kickboxing match in June 2024. He was just 15 years old and was a student at Archbishop Beck Catholic College in Fazakerley. After the injury, Alex was taken to a hospital where doctors discovered he had a serious bleed on his brain. He underwent surgery but sadly passed away on July 2. His family is now urging for better safety regulations in combat sports for children, stating they don't want any other families to experience such a loss. A coroner named Michael Pemberton conducted an inquest into Alex's death. His report found a lack of safety guidelines for child participants in contact sports like kickboxing. He raised concerns that no minimum standards exist for medical support, safety checks, or risk assessments during both official and unofficial matches. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, is expected to respond to the report within 56 days. Alex’s family has expressed gratitude for the coroner's quick actions and hopes for changes to make sports safer for children. A legal partner, Jill Paterson, emphasized the urgency of addressing the coroner's concerns. Many children across the country participate in combat sports, and they deserve proper safety measures. Alex's family continues to grieve their loss and hopes to prevent future tragedies.