Josh Frederiksen

Josh Frederiksen was an Australian professional boxer, former national light-heavyweight champion, and a qualified skydiver whose death after a landing accident shocked the Australian boxing and parachuting communities. He died on the night of 4 November 2026 at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital at the age of 36, hours after a hard landing at Skydive Ramblers in Toogoolawah, northwest of Brisbane.

In the ring Frederiksen compiled a professional record of 13 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws across a career that ended around March 2025. He was remembered by peers as a former Australian light-heavyweight champion and as a mentor who stayed close to younger fighters after retirement. Outside boxing he worked as a breath coach and barber and remained a familiar presence in gym and community circles that valued his character as much as his titles.

Skydiving became another passion. By the time of the accident he had completed more than 100 jumps and held Australian Parachute Federation membership; APF chief executive Stephen Porter said Frederiksen was a qualified skydiver with 104 jumps. On Wednesday 4 November 2026 he made a sports jump at Skydive Ramblers Toogoolawah. Early APF information indicated that his parachute opened and operated as intended, but that he hit turbulence while guiding toward the ground near landing and dropped rapidly, crashing into the ground off the Brisbane Valley Highway.

Paramedics were called just after midday. Frederiksen suffered significant chest, pelvic, abdominal and arm injuries and was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he died later that night. Queensland Police said the death was not treated as suspicious and prepared a report for the coroner. Porter issued a statement of condolence on behalf of the APF, noting that skydiving carries inherent risks that cannot be eliminated entirely.

Tributes poured in from the boxing community. Promoter and mentor Nick Midgley called Frederiksen a brother and said he had never heard anyone speak ill of him. Former world champion Will Tomlinson and others described the loss as devastating. A GoFundMe organised for his family raised tens of thousands of dollars within days, with organiser Hannah Alexander writing that if love alone could have kept him here, Josh would have lived forever. Frederiksen leaves a record as a hardworking Australian champion whose second life as a skydiver, coach and mentor ended in a landing accident investigators were still examining.