Michail Antonio has posted a heartwarming birthday message after surviving a horror car crash that left him "close to dying".

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• Collided with tree in December 2024
• Taking in a long road to recovery
• Feels fortunate to still be alive

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The West Ham United forward was involved in a scary road traffic accident in December 2024. After colliding with a tree, the Jamaica international had to be cut from the wreckage of his Ferrari by fire crews before being airlifted to hospital and undergoing surgery on a lower leg fracture.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Antonio was initially expected to be ruled out of professional football for at least 12 months, but he recently enjoyed a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. He is now back in England and revelling in reaching the age of 35.

• WHAT MICHAIL ANTONIO SAID

  Antonio has posted on social media: "Since my 30th birthday I’ve woke up on my birthdays not really fussed about the day, and I did the same thing this morning until the realisation hit me (that) I actually almost didn’t make it to this birthday,' he wrote on Instagram.

  "So I just want to thank God for saving me and allowing me to make it to another birthday. I also want to say happy birthday to everyone whose birthday it is today. Let’s live it up."

  The former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday star went on to post a video of signing ‘Happy Birthday’ to himself, alongside the message: "It's my birthday, I'm going to have fun if I want to."

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Antonio told the BBC One programme Morning Live of visiting the scrapyard that now houses his written off vehicle: "It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. 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.

  "All I know is that I hit a tree – I don't know how I hit a tree – and that the police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats. From the crash, I've been more of an emotional man. I was avoiding going back because I was slightly embarrassed by the crash and the accident. Obviously I've almost died in the car crash."

Tags: Futebol
Category: News