Tragedy struck the El Cajon community when 11-year-old Muay Thai boxing champion Kevin Ouda was hit by a car while out running with teammates. The accident, occurring last Saturday, as reported by NBC San Diego, left the young athlete on life support, prompting an outpouring of support and prayers for a miraculous recovery. Kevin's coach, James Gregory from Pure Heart Muay Thai, depicted the mishap, revealing a dog's sudden appearance that caused Kevin to jump back, falling victim to the passing vehicle.
Despite doctors giving him 24 to 48 hours to live after emergency brain surgery, Kevin has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience. According to Coach Gregory in a statement obtained by 10News, the young fighter "has an extremely strong heartbeat and respiration and circulation, and so he is well alive still and fighting in my belief." The community clings to hope, referring to their prayers for his survival as a potential "Christmas Miracle."
Gregory shared with NBC San Diego that Kevin was dedicated and a skilled young athlete, having won a regional championship in Arizona earlier in his career. The accident's impact rippled through the local boxing community, with Kevin's upcoming national title fight in New York now on hold. His coach remains hopeful, noting that the gym calendar still marks the anticipated match date.
In light of the incident, there has been renewed attention on the safety of First Avenue, where the accident took place. Gregory has expressed long-standing concerns about the lack of sidewalks and streetlights, implicitly calling for action to prevent future tragedies. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been established to help cover Kevin's medical expenses, inviting those moved by his story to support his ongoing battle. Despite the competition inherent in the sport, the boxing community has banded together to support one of their youngest in his fight for life. Gregory poignantly emphasized through NBC San Diego, "We compete with each other, but when it comes time to help each other, everybody is really there for each other."
Neither the California Highway Patrol nor El Cajon police have released further comments on the incident, and it has been reported that the driver of the car involved was not ticketed or charged.
