Champion boxer, 18, who died after his speeding car collided with an embankment on the M4 was speeding and had taken cannabis, inquest hears
- The young boxer was killed in a motorway crash in the early hours of April 7
- Mohammed Hashim, 18 died after his BMW collided with an embankment and ended up on its roof
- He was a top teenage boxer who had been compared to Muhammad Ali
A champion young boxer, who was killed in a motorway crash, was speeding at the time and had taken cannabis, an inquest heard.
Mohammed Hashim, 18, died after his BMW collided with an the embankment and a barrier between junctions 14 and 15 of the M4 before flipping and rolling across the road on April 7.
The young boxer, from Cardiff, Wales, had been ranked second in the world for his age in boxing, had won national titles and had been compared to Muhammad Ali.
A hearing into his death yesterday (September 9) ruled there was a ‘combination’ of reasons that caused the crash.
Champion boxer Mohammed Hashim,18, died after his BMW crashed on the M4, in the early hours of April 7
Coroner Ian Singleton said: ‘Mohammed sustained the injuries which led to his death at the time the vehicle landed on its roof.
‘On a balance of probabilities, the vehicle left the road due to a ‘combination’ of excessive speed, the taking of cannabis and the lack of driving training and the passing of a driving test.’
Mr Singleton recorded the cause of death as a road traffic collision at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court in Salisbury, Wilts.
Mohammed’s family previously paid tribute to him in a statement released by police, describing him as ‘generous and thoughtful’.
They said: ‘Mohammed was an inspirational individual with good morals and ethics; he was a giver, a doer and never liked receiving.
‘He was the most generous and thoughtful person anyone could meet.
‘Mohammed’s views in life was: be kind to everyone, even the unkind ones because paying bad with bad does not equal to good.
‘Mohammed had the most electrifying smile in the world, he could light up any room he entered.
‘At 16, he had already accomplished a lot in his life – he became a national champion in his field of boxing and made both his family and nation proud.
‘At one point in his career Mohammed was ranked second in the world for his age and was known for fighting in a similar style to the legend and his namesake Ali.
‘Mohammed was an outstanding young individual with great prospects and was always full of energy.
‘It’s sad to see his life cut so short; he will be sadly missed and rest assured forever in our hearts.’
Carl Stephens, head coach at Llanedeyrn ABC boxing gym, also praised Mohammed in a statement previously released by Wiltshire Police.
Mohammed’s family paid tribute to him and described him as ‘generous and thoughtful’
He said: ‘Mo was our number one boxer who represented us 36 times and winning 31 of those matches.
‘He represented Wales and also won the Welsh Schoolboy and Welsh National Association of Boys and Girls’ Clubs, as well as the British Championship.
‘He had recently been training with accomplished professionals such as Andrew Selby and Jay Harris, who had recently boxed for world titles.
‘Mo was just a young man compared to these seasoned boxers but they could not believe the ability he had with his limited experience.
‘There were a lot of well placed people on the boxing circuit who thought Little Mo could have gone right to the top.
‘Mo was like second son to me; he was a likeable, bubbly, smiling young man who everyone loved.
‘It is a tragedy for his family, friends and all the boxing world that such a talent has been lost at such a young age.
‘The boys at the gym will carry on in your memory and do their best to box in your shadow.
‘Little Mo – simply the best.’