Boxer Towell's last words to trainer were "Get me up off the deck boss"
25-year-old Mike Towell died 24 hours after collapsing at the end of a bout in Glasgow
Scottish boxer Mike Towell’s last words to his trainer before he collapsed in the ring were “Get me up off the deck, boss”, a fatal accident inquiry heard.
Footage of the fight that showed the moment Mike was knocked to the ground was played to the court.
One of Mike’s trainers, Stevie Graham, told the inquiry he went to the boxer’s side immediately and they tried to get him on to a stool but his leg gave way.
He described it as "the best fight he ever boxed".
Mr Graham said is no longer involved in boxing because it “hit them really hard” and said “It’s like losing a member of your family”.
The 45-year-old construction company owner was giving evidence for a second day at the probe into the 25-year-old fighter’s death at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday.
Mike, from Dundee, died of a bleed on the brain the day after he lost a bout in the fifth round to Welsh fighter Dale Evans on September 29, 2016.
Iron’ Mike, a welterweight fighter, collapsed after his loss to Evans in the British title eliminator at Glasgow’s St Andrews Sporting Club.
He was given medical treatment in the ring before being taken to hospital but died 24 hours later on September 30.
In evidence Mr Graham was asked about the fight with Dale Evans and said “That’s the best he ever boxed”.
Procurator fiscal depute Eileen Beadsworth played the entire footage of Mike’s fight with Dale Evans to the inquiry.
During the fifth bout Mike was punched and hit the floor but got back up again, and was given a count by the referee.
He carried on for a few seconds before being punched again and fell to the floor for a second time.
Asked what happened then, Mr Graham said: “He was sitting on the floor, I think he was on the canvas.
“They were trying to keep on the canvas because of the nature of the knock-down.”
He added: “I think that was his last words - ‘Get me up off the deck, boss’.”
Mr Graham said as they tried to sit him on a stool, his right leg gave way and he “keeled” off the seat and lay on the floor where medics immediately worked on him.
Asked why his gym in Stirling has since closed and he is no longer involved in the sport he said: “It just hit us really hard.
“They end up up like family. He was a big part of our gym - we had six or seven professional boxers there.
“It’s pretty much unheard of, they all chucked it.”
He added: “It’s like losing a member of your family, they get that close to you.”
The inquiry before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull continues.