Star of Freddie Flintoff’s BBC show Field of Dreams Umar Mahmood dies in horror crash
A TEENAGER who starred in Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams has died in a horror car crash.
Umar Mahmood, 18, tragically passed away after the Audi A3 Sport he was in left the road and struck trees along Chain Caul Way, Preston on Tuesday September 10.
Umar, a former pupil of Penwortham Priory Academy in Lancashire, suffered severe injuries and passed away in hospital on Thursday morning.
Adam Bodi, 16, was a back seat passenger in the vehicle. He passed away in hospital on Wednesday, just weeks after getting his GCSE results.
Umar’s school paid tribute to a “bright” and “studious” pupil, saying he appeared in Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams.
The statement reads: “We are again saddened as a school to hear the news that Umar Mahmood, who was in the same accident as Adam, and who left Priory 2 years ago, has also passed away.
“Umar was a bright, studious and well-loved member of our school community.
“He had a passion for Geography as well as his cricket, playing for Priory’s school team and appearing in the BBC One documentary ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’.
“It was a privilege for us here at Priory to know Umar.
“He was a young man who was always considerate to those around him and who showed ambition and kindness in all that he did.
“It is of course with great sadness that we hear this news. We give our sincere condolences to all of Umar’s family and friends on behalf of the school, at what will be a very difficult time.
“They too, are in our thoughts and prayers today.”
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams followed the former Top Gear presenter as he created a brand-new cricket team with a group of promising teens.
Freddie, 46, wanted to inspire a new generation of adolescents to play cricket.
He returned to his hometown of Preston on a mission to prove that anyone can play the sport, regardless of their background.
Emergency services were called to Chain Caul Way, between Leeward Road and Nile Close, at 10.55pm on Tuesday after reports of a collision.
Officers found that the vehicle had left the carriageway and collided with trees by the roadside.
A 17-year-old boy, who was a front seat passenger, suffered serious injuries and was said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
The school also paid tribute to Adam describing him as a “fantastic young man” who had a “fantastic sense of humour.”
They said: “Adam was an amazing pupil, of whom we have nothing but fantastic memories.
“He was popular, bright, confident and had a fantastic sense of humour alongside being a first-class footballer, who had been part of our football team here at Priory for five years.
“We know that the rest of his year group will be equally upset at losing one of their own.
“Adam was a fantastic young man, and he, his family and friends are very much in our thoughts and prayers.”
Sgt Paul McCurrie, from Lancashire Police, said: “This was a collision with tragic circumstances.
“Two young people have died, and I wish to extend my sympathy to their families, loved ones and friends.
“We are investigating how the collision happened, and we continue to ask for anyone who witnessed it to contact us.
“Also, if anyone was driving in the Chain Caul Lane area around the time of the collision and has dash cam footage, or they have CCTV footage from the area, please get in touch.”
Several people have paid tribute to the teens, who are both from Preston, and said their thoughts are with their families and friends.
One person said: “This is devastating. Thinking of the families of those boys. You never expect your children to go out and never come home.”
Another commented: “So sad. Rest in peace both young men, my thoughts are with their families at this very sad time.”