00:00A teenage boy who collapsed during an unsanctioned kickboxing match died through misadventure a coroner has ruled,
00:07prompting urgent calls for reform in children's combat sports.
00:1015-year-old Alex Eastwood from Liverpool suffered a fatal brain injury during what was described as a light contact bout at a gym in Wigan last June.
00:19He collapsed after the final round and died three days later in hospital with his father by his side.
00:23The teenager from Vazakali who'd recently finished his GCSEs was a rising star in this sport, training five times a week,
00:31but the inquest heard the match he fought lacked official oversight, clear safety standards and proper planning.
00:37At the conclusion of the four-day inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court,
00:41the coroner cited the lack of minimum standards around combat sports and said the planning and lack of risk assessment before the fatal bout was suboptimal.
00:49The assistant coroner, Michael Pemberton, said the fight's organisation was chaotic and disjointed with no formal risk assessment or pre-bout briefing.
00:58He said the fight may have strayed into full contact territory despite being built as light contact.
01:04The match was part of a charity fundraiser not sanctioned by any governing body, including kickboxing GB.
01:10Alex's family said the fight should never have happened and called for urgent government intervention.
01:16His stepmother described him as our heart and soul and urged action to ensure no other family suffers the same fate.
01:25Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, has written to the coroner and said officials in her department
01:31are now looking at the best way to address the concerns raised about the safety of children taking part in combat sports.
01:39Meanwhile, kickboxing GB says it will consider the coroner's findings carefully.
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