Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Alexander Eastwood

Ref: 2025-0142 Date: 14 Mar 2025 Coroner: Michael Pemberton Area: Manchester West Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

There is a lack of guidance and regulation for children's contact sports, particularly for unofficial matches, leading to an absence of minimum standards for safeguarding, medical support, and risk management.

Date 14 Mar 2025

56-day deadline 9 May 2025

Responses identified 1 of 1

Child Death (from 2015)

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

View full coroner's concerns

1. During the current course of investigation, it is apparent that there is no guidance or regulation of contact sports involving children’s participation.

2. This is important, because 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.

3. 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.

4. This includes
a. no minimum standard of what medical support may be required,
b. maximum rounds or periods of rest
c. welfare checks on participants being undertaken.
d. no risk assessment and critical incident plan

5. In the current investigation, these concerns relate to the sport of Kick Boxing, but the identified issues appear to be of wider significance in terms of ‘contact ‘ sports involving children.

Responses

1 respondent

Department For Culture Media And Sport Central Government

14 Mar 2025 PDF

Action Planned

The Department is exploring ways to improve the safety and welfare of children in martial arts, asking Sport England to work with the Martial Arts Safeguarding Group, and ensuring parents understand the difference between regulated and unregulated competitions. (AI summary)

View full response

Secretary of State for Culture , Media and Spont Ist Floor 100 Parliament Street London SWIA 2B0 Department enquiries@dcms Qov uk for Culture, WMgQK Ukldcms Media & Sport 2025 Michael James Pemberton Assistant Coroner for Manchester (West) HM Coroner's Court and Office for Manchester West Paderborn House Howell Croft North Bolton BL1 1QY Mv Penbe/~ Thank you for your letter of 14 March 2025 enclosing a copy of the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths of Alexander Robert Eastwood. would Iike to extend my deepest sympathies to Alexander's family and friends. As part of his legacy; confirm we are 'doing everything possible to ensure children can sport safely: You raised a number of concerns about the current system and am keen to consider how best to address them; am mindful that the government does not; and should not; regulate sport directly: However, am concerned that the current system, which allows individual clubs to decide whether to affiliate to a National Governing Body and their associated standards, does not offer sufficient protection to children and parents While resources are available to those who choose to use them, have tasked my Department with exploring ways to urgently improve the safety and welfare of children in martial arts and ensure it is always a priority: will also ask Sport England to work with the Martial Arts Safeguarding Group and other relevant combat sport stakeholders on this_ am particularly keen that we ensure that parents and children who are currently participating in competitions understand the difference between competitions that are regulated and those that aren't would be happy to update you on progress once we have received and considered your final report: In the meantime have asked my officials to explore different options and report back to me. May enjoy Rout O1sA8149

am clear that there is more we can do to protect and empower parents and children participating in sport: am proactively seeking the views and experiences of the family, and am sO grateful to you for raising this with me. No family should have to endure the pain and loss Alexander's family have experienced and am determined that from this tragedy, there must emerge a better system.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 05 July 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Alexander Robert EASTWOOD aged 15. The investigation has not yet concluded, and the inquest has not been heard.

Circumstances of the death

On 29 June 2024, Alexander Eastwood participated in a kickboxing competition in Wigan. He wore safety equipment including a head guard, and gloves. The fight lasted 3 x 2 minute rounds. At the end of the contest, he appeared unwell and became unresponsive apparently suffering a seizure. Medical assistance at the match was summoned and paramedics were called. He was taken by ambulance to Wigan Royal Albert & Edward Infirmary where a CT scan showed he had a significant bleed on the brain. He was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in a critical condition and underwent surgery to relieve intracranial pressure, but unfortunately further bleeds developed and despite maximal medical intervention he deteriorated and was declared deceased on 2 July 2024.

Copies sent to

Hurricane Combat & Fitness Kickboxing GBUK Sport Children’s Commissioner for England

Similar PFD reports

Shared signals

Related inquiry recommendations

Report details

Reference: 2025-0142
Date of report: 14 March 2025
Coroner: Michael Pemberton
Coroner area: Manchester West

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 9 May 2025.

Sent to

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.