West Ham United forward Michail Antonio has publicly discussed the harrowing car accident he experienced recently.
The 34-year-old footballer was hospitalized after his Ferrari FF crashed into a tree in Epping, Essex, on December 7.
He sustained a broken leg in the incident and had surgery the next day.
Despite initial uncertainties about his future in football, Antonio is now focused on returning to the field.
In an interview, he stated with certainty, “Yes, 100 percent. I will play again.”
“That’s my goal, and I’m working hard six days a week to achieve it. I’ve maintained a positive attitude throughout this ordeal. It was a terrible accident and a significant injury.”
“This is the most serious injury I’ve faced in my career. However, the fact that my recovery is already ahead of schedule by two to three months gives me confidence. I know I’ll be back playing, and I’m confident I can regain my sharpness.”
Antonio also acknowledged that the accident has shifted his perspective on life.
He added, “The hardest part was the realization that I could have been taken away from my children.”
“This experience has filled me with happiness and a positive outlook because I feel like I’ve been given another shot at life.”
“We shielded the children from the severity of the situation. My eldest son did see images and was affected. He’s 13, and photos of the wrecked car were circulating. He visited me in the hospital. But the younger ones were largely unaware of how serious it was. We made sure they didn’t see too much online.”
The accident deeply concerned the football community, though Antonio himself has no memory of the crash.
“The car felt unstable, the rear kept sliding out, which made me feel unsafe,” he mentioned about his Ferrari.
“I had only owned it for three weeks and was already considering returning it.”
“Strangely, I’m told I was conscious and communicating with everyone – the police, bystanders, and the person who found me.”
“Despite my leg being badly broken, they managed to get me out and splint it right there by the car.”
“Everyone assumed I was airlifted to the hospital, but the helicopter couldn’t take off due to the severe weather, so I was transported by road.”
Antonio’s femur was fractured in four places, requiring surgery to insert a rod with four screws to stabilize the bone.
His leg is expected to fully recover in six to twelve months.
The Jamaican international expressed his gratitude to West Ham supporters, teammates, and staff for their unwavering support during this challenging period.
“The outpouring of love is incredible. I initially got into football as a pastime and didn’t have strong club affiliations.”
“But now, I’m undoubtedly a West Ham fan. The club’s actions, the support both on and off the field, the medical care and specialists provided, have been incredible. I am thankful to the club, the fans, the emergency responders, and everyone around me.”
Throughout his early recovery, Antonio watched West Ham matches weekly for motivation.
The West Ham icon admitted that hearing fans chant his name was a significant morale booster.
He shared, “I remember watching the Wolves game from the hospital, and it was deeply moving. The support was amazing.”
“Over the following weeks, every time I watched a game, hearing the fans sing my name was incredibly uplifting and genuinely helped me a lot.”
“The support I’ve received has been truly remarkable from the start. Everyone at the Club has been fantastic – they were the ones who informed my family immediately after the crash and were at the hospital right away.”
“Karren Brady visited me in the hospital, along with players and [Julen] Lopetegui and his team.”
“Fans have sent me gifts and countless messages of support from fans, friends, and family. It’s been a very emotional time, just because of the immense love I’ve felt.”
