West Ham’s Michail Antonio Opens Up About ‘Near-Death’ Experience in Horror Car Crash

Michail Antonio is a name that is not going to be forgotten for quite some time. His performances at West Ham alongside the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Vladimir Coufal, and others have made that squad a special one in the club’s history. Unfortunately, his great run of form at West Ham has come to a halt temporarily because of a near-death accident which changed his life completely.

Antonio spent almost three weeks in the hospital and is facing a lengthy recovery because of his femur being shattered in four different places. The West Ham legend who has amassed 323 appearances has undoubtedly and fortunately escaped a horrible fate as his Ferrari was in disastrous condition after it collided with a tree.

Michail Antonio was driving his Ferrari and faced a horrible crash in December 2024 after which he finally opened up about his grief. He revealed that he has become much more appreciative of his life, especially about his four kids with ex-wife Debbie Whittle, and said that he is undergoing therapy to cope with the aftermath of the crash.

Michail Antonio’s Official Statement

Michail Antonio told the BBC:

“The most difficult part is that I almost wasn’t there for my children. It’s just made me happy, and positive about life, because I’ve got another chance at life.

“During this, we kept it away from the kids. My eldest saw it, and he struggled with it. He’s 13, and obviously, people were showing photos of the car. So he came down and saw me in the hospital.

“But the younger ones, they never really knew how bad the situation was. We kind of avoided letting them get on the internet.”

Upon revisiting the accident spot he said:

“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.”

“The only problem I have with it right now is every time I get behind the wheel, I worry that even if something small happens, it will be like ‘ah, Michail’s been in a crash again’, and that kind of negativity gets in my mind and gives me a bit of nerve.”

Michail Antonio also spoke with regards to his career:

“Yes, 100%. I will play again,” he said. “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 most recent statement regarding the accident on social media was:

“What I’ve been through recently has opened my eyes. Life is fragile, and every single moment matters. I’m so grateful to God for giving me the strength to keep going and for allowing me to still be here.

“To everyone from top to bottom at West Ham United FC. The medical team, The board, all of the staff, my teammates and the amazing West Ham fans… I honestly could not have gotten through this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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