West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has undergone a successful surgery following a severe car accident in Essex on Saturday. The 34-year old Jamaican Premier League star sustained a lower limb fracture when his Ferrari was heavily damaged two nights ago.
The incident which occurred in Theydon Bois took everyone by shock, friends and family alike. But the big question remains; will he play football again?
Accident, Surgery and Recovery
Antonio was rushed to a central London hospital after the crash, where he underwent surgery on Sunday.
Few hours later, West Ham United issued a statement confirming his stable condition.
"West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area," the club said. "Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital. At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family. The Club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course."
Also earlier, the club expressed their support for the striker, stating, "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Michail, his family and friends at this time."
Images circulating on social media showed a heavily damaged Ferrari, reportedly belonging to Antonio, highlighting the extent of the crash. However, TalkSPORT presenter Jim White in response to the media shared an update on Antonio's condition, stating: "As of this morning, he remains stable in the hospital, receiving dedicated care from the NHS and full support from West Ham's medical team."
Past Accidents
Sadly, this is not Antonio's first road incident. In 2021, the striker made headlines after crashing another supercar into a wall in Balham, South London. While he emerged unscathed from that incident, this latest crash has resulted in serious injuries, potentially sidelining him for up to a year.
Essex Police are calling for witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage to step forward. This is because the circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear, and the authorities are working to establish the details.
Antonio’s Career and Contribution
Since joining West Ham in 2015 from Nottingham Forest, Antonio has been a key player for the club. With 68 goals in 268 PL appearances, he is the club's all-time leading scorer in the competition. He also played a very important role in West Ham’s UEFA Conference League victory during the 2022/23 season.
As at Friday, Antonio had trained with the team and was expected to feature in their match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Now, with the current situation, his absence will leave a significant gap in the squad.
The Hammers fans, teammates and the entire football community have rallied around Antonio expressing their support while wishing him a complete recovery. Former teammate, Declan Rice with a message on his IG story after sharing West Ham’s post said, "Thinking of you & your family brother. Prayers to all of you @michailantonio".
The board at West Ham United are not excluded in their contribution and have officially thanked the emergency services and medical team for their care while reassuring fans that updates would be provided as necessary.
The Star is miles ahead of recovery, but his physical resilience as a professional athlete may aid his rehabilitation. The club and its supporters are hopeful that he will overcome this setback and eventually return to fly the club’s colors.