Michail Antonio posts emotional update after horror car crash that left him with broken leg
Michail Antonio has posted an emotional update after being discharged from hospital following a horror car crash that broke his leg. The 34-year-old was driving his £260,000 Ferrari when it veered off the road in Essex on December 7. Michail Antonio was involved in a serious traffic accident on December 7Getty The force of the crash saw the Hammers star shifted into the passenger seat before being trapped inside the car for over 45 minutes as emergency services battled to free him. Antonio subsequently underwent surgery before West Ham later assured worried fans that the player was in a stable condition after distressing pictures of the vehicle surfaced online. His injuries are expected to keep him out of action for at least a year – with Antonio’s contract is set to expire this summer. That has prompted the club to look into the possibility of extending his deal to cover the period of recuperation, with talks expected to take place soon. And on New Year’s Eve he took to Instagram to post a positive update on his life. He said: “Every year around this time, I’m asked what I’m grateful for, and every year I’ve struggled to find the right words. But this year, I know exactly what I’m grateful for: being alive. “I want to take a moment to acknowledge something I’ve come to realise—I’ve spent so many years taking life for granted. I made plans for the next day, the next year, always assuming tomorrow was guaranteed. I’ve seen close friends pass away, witnessed others face near-death experiences, and even then, I didn’t fully grasp just how precious life is. “What I’ve been through recently has opened my eyes. Life is fragile, and every single moment matters. I’m so grateful to God for giving me the strength to keep going and for allowing me to still be here. “To the emergency services, the NHS, The Air Ambulance, everyone at the Royal London and Cromwell hospitals and everyone from top to bottom at West Ham United FC. The medical team, The board, all of the staff, my team mates and the amazing West Ham fans… I honestly could not have got through this without you. thank you from the bottom of my heart. To my loved ones who stood by my side throughout everything, I can’t express how much you mean to me. “Lastly, to the whole football community thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown me. It has truly meant the world. I love you all and I am endlessly grateful for every one of you. Antonio posted a positive update on Instagram on New Year’s EveInstagram - michailantonio Happy new year- and I’ll be back on that pitch soon.” Antonio joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and has gone on to become the club’s all-time Premier League top goalscorer with 83. Two days after the crash, Antonio’s teammates paid tribute to him prior to their crunch league fixture with Wolves by warming up in t-shirts bearing his name. The shirts and the match jerseys were later auctioned off with £60,000 raised for both the NHS and Air Ambulance UK Charity. “It’s been special to see the West Ham family and the wider football community come together in support of Mic over the last month,” said West Ham teammate Jarrod Bowen. “We are all grateful for the care that both the NHS and Air Ambulances UK have given to Mic during a challenging time for him and his family, and for what they continue to do every single day for people around the country. Images surfaced on social media showing the aftermath of the crashX “Pulling together during difficult times is what being a part of West Ham United is all about and on behalf of the team, I want to thank everyone.” GettyWest Ham captain Jarrod Bowen paid an emotional tribute to teammate Antonio[/caption] After initial fears that Antonio was at risk of losing his life were aborted, concerns were raised that the striker may not return to the pitch. However West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui expressed his confidence that Antonio will make a return to football. “The most important thing is that he’s alive, he’s good,” said Lopetegui. “He broke his femur, but he’s going to recover for sure. “He’s going to need time. It’s about time. “Now it’s about time but the good news is that he has time because when you see the car was terrible, the accident, that’s why we are happy. “Because in the end, despite the fact we are unhappy because we lost one very important player for us, we are happy because he’s going to be ready. “Now he’s strong, he’s recovered himself in the next month for sure and he’s going to be ready to be a player. The first thing is to be a man and then to be a player.”
Michail Antonio has posted an emotional update after being discharged from hospital following a horror car crash that broke his leg.
The 34-year-old was driving his £260,000 Ferrari when it veered off the road in Essex on December 7.
The force of the crash saw the Hammers star shifted into the passenger seat before being trapped inside the car for over 45 minutes as emergency services battled to free him.
Antonio subsequently underwent surgery before West Ham later assured worried fans that the player was in a stable condition after distressing pictures of the vehicle surfaced online.
His injuries are expected to keep him out of action for at least a year – with Antonio’s contract is set to expire this summer.
That has prompted the club to look into the possibility of extending his deal to cover the period of recuperation, with talks expected to take place soon.
And on New Year’s Eve he took to Instagram to post a positive update on his life.
He said: “Every year around this time, I’m asked what I’m grateful for, and every year I’ve struggled to find the right words. But this year, I know exactly what I’m grateful for: being alive.
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge something I’ve come to realise—I’ve spent so many years taking life for granted. I made plans for the next day, the next year, always assuming tomorrow was guaranteed. I’ve seen close friends pass away, witnessed others face near-death experiences, and even then, I didn’t fully grasp just how precious life is.
“What I’ve been through recently has opened my eyes. Life is fragile, and every single moment matters. I’m so grateful to God for giving me the strength to keep going and for allowing me to still be here.
“To the emergency services, the NHS, The Air Ambulance, everyone at the Royal London and Cromwell hospitals and everyone from top to bottom at West Ham United FC. The medical team, The board, all of the staff, my team mates and the amazing West Ham fans… I honestly could not have got through this without you. thank you from the bottom of my heart. To my loved ones who stood by my side throughout everything, I can’t express how much you mean to me.
“Lastly, to the whole football community thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown me. It has truly meant the world. I love you all and I am endlessly grateful for every one of you.
Happy new year- and I’ll be back on that pitch soon.”
Antonio joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and has gone on to become the club’s all-time Premier League top goalscorer with 83.
Two days after the crash, Antonio’s teammates paid tribute to him prior to their crunch league fixture with Wolves by warming up in t-shirts bearing his name.
The shirts and the match jerseys were later auctioned off with £60,000 raised for both the NHS and Air Ambulance UK Charity.
“It’s been special to see the West Ham family and the wider football community come together in support of Mic over the last month,” said West Ham teammate Jarrod Bowen.
“We are all grateful for the care that both the NHS and Air Ambulances UK have given to Mic during a challenging time for him and his family, and for what they continue to do every single day for people around the country.
“Pulling together during difficult times is what being a part of West Ham United is all about and on behalf of the team, I want to thank everyone.”
After initial fears that Antonio was at risk of losing his life were aborted, concerns were raised that the striker may not return to the pitch.
However West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui expressed his confidence that Antonio will make a return to football.
“The most important thing is that he’s alive, he’s good,” said Lopetegui. “He broke his femur, but he’s going to recover for sure.
“He’s going to need time. It’s about time.
“Now it’s about time but the good news is that he has time because when you see the car was terrible, the accident, that’s why we are happy.
“Because in the end, despite the fact we are unhappy because we lost one very important player for us, we are happy because he’s going to be ready.
“Now he’s strong, he’s recovered himself in the next month for sure and he’s going to be ready to be a player. The first thing is to be a man and then to be a player.”
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