Major League Soccer is devastated after news of Charlotte FC defender Anton Walkes’s Death surfaced on the media on January 23, 2023, following a boat accident.
English pro footballer Anton Walkes, who played as a defender and midfielder, lost his life in a tragic Boat accident on January 19, 2023.
At 16, he signed for Tottenham and made one competitive appearance during a League Cup tie with Gillingham in September 2016.
On December 14, 2021, Anton was selected by Charlotte FC in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft.
Anton was loaned out to Atalanta United, after which he joined League One club Portsmouth in 2017, where he played for several years.
The Charlotte FC Defender was first spotted by Tottenham playing for non-league team Dulwich Hamlet in London and has been a big advocate of young players swapping English football for MLS.
Anton Walkes Boat Accident: Charlotte FC Defender Death And Obituary
The 25-year-old footballer, Anton, died at the scene of the Miami Fire Rescue at 3 pm local time on January 19, 2023.
According to the Miami Herald, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission claims Anton was reportedly found unconscious and received CPR from Miami Fire Rescue.
The incident involved two boats crashing near the Miami Marine Stadium on January 18, 2023.
The Charlotte Observer reported Anton was in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area with Charlotte FC as the team held a 12-day training camp in Fort Lauderdale to start the 2023 preseason.
The midfielder, Anton, was survived by his girlfriend, Alexis and the couple’s young daughter, Ayla.
Dailymail claims Anton’s death is an active investigation, and no further information is available now.
Before his death, Anton shared a photo of him training on his Instagram story, and he arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 9 for a 12-day training camp.
The footballer turned professional in 2016 and began his career nurtured through Tottenham Hotspur’s academy in England.
How Did Tottenham Hotspur Midfielder Die?
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the former Tottenham Hotspur Midfielder was involved in a tragic incident near Miami Marine Stadium.
Following the accident, the midfielder received medical attention and was transferred to the hospital, but he was declared dead.
According to Dailymail, Anton, who has a young daughter called Ayla with his girlfriend Alexis, received CPR from Miami Fire Rescue on January 18 before being transported to the hospital but died on January 19.
On December 14, 2021, Charlotte FC picked up the midfielder ahead of their inaugural season as part of the expansion draft. Last season, Anton played 21 games for Charlotte.
In November 2018, the footballer pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, being fined and receiving a sentence of 120 hours of community service.
Anton Walkes Tributes
Charlotte FC owner David Tepper in a statement on the club’s official website, wrote: “Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s staff is devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes, a tremendous son, Father, partner and teammate.
His parents were supporters of his football career. Anton’s parents stayed all night to watch and celebrate his game-winning goal vs. San Jose.
Anton told tottenhamhotspur.com that his parents, watching from his home country of England, were awake all night to watch their son score his big goal and could not sleep afterward.
Tributes flooded in from across the Soccer world after the tragic news. Anton club’s sporting director Zoran Krneta confirmed: “We are heartbroken from the loss of Anton Walkes.