Former Australian Boxing Champion Josh Frederiksen Dies in Skydiving Accident

Former Australian boxing champion Josh Frederiksen has died aged 36 after a skydiving accident in Queensland.

Frederiksen, a former Australian light-heavyweight titleholder, was airlifted from a parachuting site at Toogoolawah, north-west of Brisbane, to a hospital in the city on Wednesday. Despite emergency treatment, he could not be saved.

Early investigations indicate his parachute opened correctly during the jump. The incident is believed to have occurred when he encountered turbulence close to the ground, leading to a heavy landing that caused severe injuries.

The Australian Parachute Federation confirmed his death and expressed its sorrow.

“APF (Australian Parachute Federation) is deeply saddened by the death of one of our members following a landing accident,” CEO Stephen Porter said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the skydiving community.

“Skydiving carries inherent risks, and while we work continually to reduce those risks, they cannot be eliminated entirely.”

Frederiksen was no novice in the air. He had completed more than 100 successful jumps, building a parallel passion for skydiving alongside a professional boxing career that spanned 20 fights and delivered a national title at light-heavyweight.

His death has shaken both the boxing and skydiving communities.

A GoFundMe page created after the accident had passed $25,000 in donations by Friday morning, as friends, fans and fellow athletes rallied to support his family.

Tributes poured in across social media. Fellow boxer Nick Midgley described the loss as devastating.

“The world lost a special man through a tragic skydiving accident last night,” Midgley wrote on Instagram.

“I’ve honestly never heard anyone say a bad word about Josh Frederiksen. He walked out his values and morals in everything he did, and I considered him a brother to me. So I’m absolutely crushed, I also know how his death will impact a lot of other people too. My condolences to his family and loved ones.”

A fighter in the ring, a risk-taker in the sky, and by all accounts a deeply respected man, Frederiksen leaves behind a legacy felt far beyond the ropes.