London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

‘Regrettable’ that only two paramedics at fatal cage fight, says coroner

‘Regrettable’ that only two paramedics at fatal cage fight, says coroner

Concerns after Saeideh Aletaha left alone following knockout, as medics returned to ringside in Southampton
A coroner has raised concerns that only two paramedics were on duty for a cage fight at which a mixed martial arts enthusiast suffered fatal head injuries.

The coroner, Christopher Wilkinson, said it was “regrettable” that Saeideh Aletaha, a 26-year-old engineer, was left alone after she was knocked out because the paramedics had to hurry back to ringside for other bouts.

Wilkinson, however, did not accept Aletaha had been “mismatched” for the fight at Central Hall in Southampton against a bigger and more muscular opponent, as her family claims.

The inquest in Winchester was told that Aletaha’s fight with Janie Morgan, a personal trainer, was tight and intense. Aletaha, who was born in Iran but was living in Salisbury, was knocked out in the third round. She was later found collapsed in a bathroom at the venue by a friend and rushed to Southampton general hospital but died on 17 November 2019.

Aletaha’s friend, Kaja Kulczcka, criticised the decision to leave the fighter on her own after the bout. She told the inquest: “A big punch landed to her face, it was brutal to see the way she fell on the floor. She slumped down, it was a heavy knock-down.”

After the bout, Kulczcka found her friend alone in a toilet cubicle. “I heard her growling in pain. There was something wrong so I banged on the door and she let me in.

“She lost consciousness, she laid herself down slowly on the floor but was fighting to control it. She was still trying to be brave. I just saw her eyes going back and I shouted out for help.”

Giving evidence, John Scott, one of two private paramedics at the event, said Aletaha did not present as being seriously unwell when she was knocked out. He said: “She was not showing any neurological abnormalities.”

The pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery said the amateur fighter was in an “extremely perilous position” as soon as she was punched. She suffered a “slow and steady bleed” that would not have been immediately obvious, Jeffery said.

The coroner ruled Aletaha died as a result of a “tragic accident” that nobody could have predicted. He said: “She and her opponent entered into this event willingly, understanding the injury risks of contact sport. They knew they would be subjected to physical battery and that was something they willingly wanted to engage in.

“It’s inherent that knockout blows are a part of this sport and there’s risks associated with it. She was tired, dropping her guard, and failed to anticipate a punch landing in a way that caused significant injury.”

Wilkinson said the paramedics could not have saved Aletaha but was critical that she was left alone. He also raised concerns over whether having two paramedics on duty was enough as, after treating her, they had to leave her to return to ringside.

He said: “It is regrettable in my view that she was not watched under observation for longer. I have questioned whether two paramedics is enough and I still question it. It is a matter to be questioned going forward. It is conceivable that two or more injuries are sustained throughout the course of an evening. It’s something that warrants consideration.”

Wilkinson ruled that organisers of the Fast and Furious fight series event were “experienced” and had done everything they could to put on a fair and safe show.

He added: “On balance, it is my view that the bout was evenly matched, it met the requirements of the weight category.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×