In an exclusive interview with BBC One's Morning Live presenter Helen Skelton, West Ham forward Michail Antonio opened up about his near-fatal car crash last December that left him with a broken leg and facing a long road to recovery.
Antonio, West Ham's record Premier League goalscorer, crashed his Ferrari into a tree in Epping Forest during Storm Darragh on December 7. The accident was so severe that when police found him, he was wedged between the two front seats, apparently trying to escape through the window before the pain from his shattered femur stopped him.
"It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. It just made me realize how close I was to dying," Antonio said after visiting the remains of his car at a scrapyard three weeks ago. "I had seen the pictures but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess."
The 34-year-old forward has no memory of the crash itself, despite reportedly being conscious and speaking to first responders at the scene. "It's weird, because the whole way through this, I have been told that I was awake and was speaking to everybody - the police, the people, and the person who found me," he explained.
The severity of Antonio's injuries was substantial. "I shattered my femur bone in four different places," he said. "I had one single keyhole surgery. They put a pole in my thigh with four bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it back together." Initially, his first surgeon recommended no weight-bearing for three months, but a second specialist encouraged him to gradually increase weight on the leg, helping him progress ahead of schedule.
Antonio was also keen to address speculation about his condition at the time of the accident. "I was traveling back from training and, anyway, I've never taken drugs in my life. I've said I like a drink. But in this situation, there were no drugs, there was no drink. That's been ruled out and confirmed by the police," he stated firmly.
The crash occurred during a period of transition at West Ham, with Julen Lopetegui being replaced by Graham Potter as manager. This timing added to Antonio's concerns, particularly with his contract expiring at the end of the season. "That was horrendous for me," he admitted. "I'm not gonna lie, it was one of the hardest things for me, the fact a new manager came in and I wasn't there to show what I can do, with my contract up at the end of the season."
Despite these challenges, Antonio remains determinedly positive about returning to football at the highest level. "Yes, 100%. I will play again," he asserted, though he revealed one moment of doubt when his physiotherapists asked if he had career-ending injury insurance. "I didn't sleep a wink that night," he recalled.
Antonio credits therapy with helping him process the traumatic event. "Since the crash, I've been more emotional than I have ever been in my life, but I feel like it's better. Therapy is one of the best things that's happened to me in my life," he shared, explaining that without previous therapy for coping with his father's death and his marriage breakdown, he likely would have responded with anger or aggression.
The crash has given Antonio a profound new perspective on life. "The most difficult part is that I almost wasn't there for my children," said the father of six. "It's just made me happy, positive about life, because I've got another chance at life." His 13-year-old son saw images of the wrecked car online and struggled with the reality of the situation, while the family shielded his younger children from the full extent of the accident.
West Ham has provided significant support during Antonio's rehabilitation, funding his recovery including a trip to Dubai for physiotherapy and meditation. The club organized charity initiatives to raise funds for the emergency services that rescued him, with the entire team warming up in Antonio shirts before auctioning them off. Teammate Jarrod Bowen showed solidarity by holding up Antonio's shirt after scoring against Wolves.
The forward expressed deep gratitude for the support he's received. "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," he said.
As for his future relationship with sports cars, Antonio has made a significant lifestyle change. "I've always been a fan and friend of sports cars and old classics, but I can't lie to you, sports cars are not my friends," he admitted. "So right now, I have a Mercedes people carrier and my brother is my driver."
Despite his ordeal, Antonio recently faced his fear by getting behind the wheel again. "I don't remember the trauma so I have no nerves," he said, though he worries about public perception if anything were to happen again.
Undeterred by doubters, Antonio remains focused on his comeback. "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," he declared. "The goal is to be back scoring goals."
