WEST HAM striker Michail Antonio has bravely opened up about his horrific car accident for the first time.
The 34-year-old crashed his Ferrari FF into a tree in Epping, Essex on December 7 and was rushed to hospital.
He suffered a broken leg in the accident and underwent surgery the following day.
While there was some initial doubt as to whether or not he would ever play football again, Antonio is now determined to get back on the pitch.
The most difficult part is that I almost wasn’t there for my children.
Michail Antonio
In an interview with the BBC, he said: “Yes, 100 percent. I will play again.
“That’s what I am focused on and why I am working six days a week. I’ve always been positive from this situation. It’s a horrendous accident, and it’s a massive injury
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“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.”
Antonio also admitted that his outlook on life has changed in the wake of the accident.
I know that I’ll play again.”
Michail Antonio
He continued: “The most difficult part is that I almost wasn’t there for my children.
“It’s just made me happy, positive about life, because I’ve got another chance at life.
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“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.”
The striker’s accident shocked the football world, but he has no recollection of how it actually happened.
“The back of the car kept swinging out on me, so I didn’t feel safe,” he said.
“I had had it for three weeks and I was already thinking about giving it back.”
“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.
“My leg was completely shattered and they got me out and put a splint on it by the side of the car.
“Everyone believed I got an air ambulance out, but the helicopter couldn’t get off the ground because of the storm, so I was driven to the hospital.”
It’s just made me happy, positive about life, because I’ve got another chance at life.”
Michail Antonio
Antonio shattered his femur in four places and had a pole fitted into his thigh via surgery with four bolts to fix the bone.
His leg is now expected to heal properly within six to 12 months.
The Jamaica international has thanked West Ham fans, players and staff for their support during the difficult time.
“The love feels good. When I got into football, I did it as a hobby and didn’t support any clubs.
“Now I am definitely a West Ham fan. 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.”
Antonio would watch West Ham games weekly throughout the early stages of his recovery to motivate him.
The Hammers icon admitted that hearing his name being sung by supporters “helped him massively”.
He told West Ham TV: “I remember watching the Wolves game in hospital, and it made me emotional. I loved the support.
“Over the next six to eight weeks, every time I watched a game I could hear the fans singing my name, which is something I really appreciated and that has actually helped me massively.
“The support I’ve had has truly been amazing, from day one. Everyone at the Club has been incredible – they were the ones who called my family to tell them what was going on, and they were the ones who turned up to the hospital straight after the crash.
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“Karren Brady came to the hospital to see me, the players came to see me, and [Julen] Lopetegui and his staff.
“I’ve had fans sending me gift packages, and so many messages from supporters, friends and family, so it’s all been a bit overwhelming. It’s been a really emotional time, just from the amount of love I’ve had.”
