West Ham striker Michail Antonio has opened up about his horror Ferrari crash near Epping Forest last December.
The 34-year-old Premier League player had a frightening escape from death after crashing his vehicle into a tree. Despite not recalling the actual moment of impact, the Jamaica international distinctly remembers concerns about driving the luxury car - a grey Ferrari FF.
Antonio's crash resulted in a catastrophic injury, leaving him with a severely broken leg, abruptly ending his season and potentially his playing career. He didn't have full confidence in the Ferrari, who have been contacted for comment.
"The back of the car kept swinging out on me, so I didn't feel safe," Antonio shared with BBC. "I had had it for three weeks and I was already thinking about giving it back.
"The police came and when they found me I was in between the two seats. I wasn't actually in the driver's seat. They said it looked like I was trying to climb out of the window, but because my leg was so badly broken the pain probably stopped me from being able to get out.
"I have been told that I was awake and was speaking to everybody - the police, the people, and the person who found me. My leg was completely shattered and they got me out and put a splint on it by the side of the car. Everyone believed I got an air ambulance out, but the helicopter couldn't get off the ground because of [Storm Darragh], so I was driven to the hospital."
The Jamaica international was hospitalised for over three weeks to recover, and last month, he made a trip to the scrapyard to confront the remnants of his demolished Ferrari, reports the Express.
"It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach," he revealed. "It just made me realise how close I was to dying. I had seen the pictures but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me."
As Antonio approaches his 35th birthday at the end of the month, the discussion turns to whether he'll lace up his boots again. Facing a challenging recovery period, there's speculation surrounding the feasibility of his return to top-flight football. Yet, Antonio himself is determined, not only to come back but to reach his peak form swiftly. However, the initial concern crept in when his therapists questioned him about career-ending injury insurance.
"I didn't sleep a wink that night," he admitted. "I'm focused on [returning quickly] and [that's] why I am working six days a week. I've always been positive from this situation. It's a horrendous accident, and it's a massive injury. It's the biggest injury I've ever had in my career.
"But the fact that I'm already two to three months ahead of where I should be, I know that I'll play again, and I know that once I'm playing the game I'll get the sharpness back. People have always doubted me. My mental strength is something that I've always believed in and this is just another setback, and it is not going to stop me."
Antonio's future at West Ham looks uncertain as his contract winds down at the end of the season. Without making a mark under new manager Graham Potter, who stepped in for Julen Lopetegui in January, Antonio finds himself in a predicament. Earning a hefty £85,000 per week, the club may consider a contract extension out of goodwill despite their lacklustre league form potentially ruling it out as financially untenable.
Nevertheless, West Ham have been supportive during his rehabilitation process, including funding a trip to Dubai that covered physiotherapy and various recuperative activities. Furthering their support, the club has played a role in charitable efforts to gather funds for the emergency services that responded to Antonio's car crash.
"The love feels good," expressed Antonio, moved to tears upon returning to the London Stadium earlier this month. "When I got into football, I did it as a hobby and didn't support any clubs. Now I am definitely a West Ham fan. What the club did for me, the support they gave me on and off the field, the hospitals and the specialists, was unbelievable. I thank the club, the fans, the emergency services, the people around me."
