West Ham ace Michail Antonio’s first words after horror car crash revealed by dog walker who found stricken star
DAZED Prem star Michail Antonio asked a witness who rushed to help after his horror crash: “Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?”
The West Ham striker, 34, was last night recovering from surgery to a broken leg.
He had to be cut free from his £260,000 Ferrari FF which was ripped apart when it hit a tree in Theydon Bois, Essex, on Saturday.
Antonio had a miraculous escape from his horrific supercar smash.
Witnesses told how the stricken West Ham ace was in a highly confused state.
The driver’s side was ripped apart and the impact is believed to have sent Michail flying across to the passenger seat.
He was trapped for almost an hour in the mangled wreckage before being airlifted from the scene.
Last night he was recovering from surgery on a lower limb fracture in a London hospital.
Samuel Woods, 34, was driving home after walking his dog in Epping Forest when he saw what he thought was a dumped car by the roadside.
He pulled over and rushed to help when he saw a man inside who looked “in big trouble”.
Samuel, a carer from Regent’s Park, told The Sun: “I said to him ‘hello’ to see if anyone was alive.
“I heard sirens and told him that help was on its way.
“He was so disorientated. He said, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?’
“The paramedics got there really fast. I couldn’t believe what happened. The car smelt of petrol.”
Samuel, who does not follow football and did not recognise the star, went on: “I looked at him and thought, ‘He’s in big trouble’.
“I just said, ‘You’ve had an accident’. He didn’t reply. He was looking around trying to make sense of what I just said. He was sitting in the passenger side.”
Other drivers also reported seeing smoke pouring from the wreckage — near to the home of West Ham owner David Sullivan.
One motorist, who passed by the scene just minutes after it happened, told The Sun: “I could see the car was a total mess.
“Because there was smoke coming out of the car people were too scared to approach it I think.”
Thousands of fans sent prayers and good wishes after news of the crash emerged.
I said to him ‘hello’ to see if anyone was alive. I heard sirens and told him that help was on its way
Samuel Woods
A West Ham spokesman said yesterday: “Michail has undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture following a road traffic accident on Saturday afternoon. Michail will continue to be monitored in hospital over the coming days.
“Everyone at the club wishes Michail a speedy recovery and wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the football family at large for the overwhelming support shown since yesterday’s news.”
The club also extended a “heartfelt thank you to the emergency services and the medical team who continue to aid him in his recovery”.
Michail’s ex-wife Debbie travelled from her home in Manchester to be by his bedside.
Teammates past and present also sent goodwill messages to the popular star, including Declan Rice, who said: “Thinking of you and your family brother. Prayers to all of you.”
Maxwel Cornet wrote: “With you brother.”
He was so disorientated. He said, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?’ The paramedics got there really fast. I couldn’t believe what happened. The car smelt of petrol
Samuel Woods
The Ferrari FF was the fastest four-seat car in the world when released in 2011.
It can reach 208mph and go from 0 to 62mph in 3.7 seconds.
Michail crashed a £210,000 Lamborghini into a garden wall on an icy road on Christmas Day 2019.
He joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for £7million and has become the East London club’s top Prem scorer, with 68 goals in 268 games.
Michail, who also hosts BBC’s Footballer’s Football podcast alongside Newcastle’s Callum Wilson, was picked three times for England squads but never played.
In 2021 he switched allegiance to Jamaica, where his parents are from, and has won 21 caps.