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Ex-Tottenham and MLS Star Anton Walkes' Cause of Death Confirmed by Inquest
Ex-Tottenham and MLS Star Anton Walkes' Cause of Death Aged 25 Confirmed by Inquest
The inquest into the former Tottenham trainee opened in London after the 25-year-old died in a tragic jet ski collision incident while he was in Miami, Florida
BBC 7 SEP 2023
The cause of death of former Tottenham and Portsmouth star Anton Walkes has been confirmed at an inquest hearing in London.
The Southwark Coroner's Court heard that the 25-year-old was on a jet ski when it was involved in a collision with a 46ft scarab boat in Miami on January 18. The ex-Spurs trainee had been in Florida with the MLS team as they underwent a twelve-day training camp.
The impact of the collision, which occurred near Miami Marine Stadium, resulted in the footballer being thrown into the sea. The dad-of-one was in the water for less than a minute and the assistant coroner told those present that Walkes was never fully submerged.
The Charlotte FC defender was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead a day later on January 19. Dr Julian Morris told the court that he sustained "facial trauma" in the horrific incident and he was his cause of death was recorded as blunt force trauma.
Dr Morris told the inquest: "He was, on January 18, a passenger on a jet ski when a 46ft scarab boat collided with them - ejecting Mr Walkes into the water He was wearing a flotation device and was in the water for less than a minute."
Walkes left Tottenham in January 2018 after loans with Atlanta United and Portsmouth, with one senior appearance to his name. From there, he enjoyed two further years at Fratton Park after the club made his loan deal permanent, appearing on 35 occasions in the EFL.
He would eventually return to the US, again joining Atlanta United in January 2020, three years after his loan spell with the club. He would make 56 outings for the Georgian outfit before he joined Charlotte FC in December 2021, where he made 24 appearances.
Following his tragic passing, the MLS club projected an image of Walkes onto the Bank of America Stadium exterior. The player's death also led to moving tributes from the club's supporters, with fans congregating outside the team's home stadium, while laying flowers.
In a statement, Charlotte's sporting director Zoran Krneta paid a touching tribute to the defender, saying: "We are heartbroken from the loss of Anton Walkes, a truly incredible father, loving person, and outstanding human being. Anton embodied what it means to be a part of Charlotte Football Club and our entire community is grieving over this tragedy.
Walkes came through the Tottenham youth system
"The impact he made in the locker room and throughout Charlotte will never be forgotten. We are thinking of his lovely family during this time and will support them fully in every way imaginable."
MLS teams also held a minute's silence in honour of Walkes before the first game of the new season, with Charlotte supporters also paying tribute in the stands. Players from the team also have sported a specially-designed 'AW5' crest on their shirts this term.
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