The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said that the mercy of God spared former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, in a deadly car crash.

Adeboye said this on Sunday during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service, where he cited Joshua’s accident while teaching on divine mercy and preservation.

Tribune Online reports that Joshua survived a deadly car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and team members.

The accident, which occurred last Monday on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, while the boxer suffered minor injuries.

The 36-year-old boxer was released from the hospital on New Year’s Eve and flew back to the United Kingdom on Saturday.

Speaking further, Adeboye referenced a biblical passage, saying, “Lamentations 3:22–23 says it is by the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed. We are alive because of the mercies of the Lord, not because of cleverness.”

He also referred to reports that Joshua switched seats with another person shortly before the crash.

“I read in the newspapers yesterday that our boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, exchanged seats with someone before the accident.

“The people he exchanged seats with died. I don’t know why, but the mercy of God said someone would still be alive today,” he said. (Sunday Tribune, excluding headline)