Hammers' Antonio 'grateful to be alive' after crash
West Ham forward Michail Antonio has said he is grateful to be alive after spending three weeks in hospital recovering from the lower limb fracture he suffered in a road traffic collision on Dec. 7.
The 34-year-old was discharged on Tuesday having undergone surgery on the broken leg he sustained when his Ferrari was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Epping, Essex.
In a post on social media, Antonio said the experience had made him realise “just how precious life is.”
“Every year around this time, I’m asked what I’m grateful for, and every year I’ve struggled to find the right words. But this year, I know exactly what I’m grateful for: being alive,” Antonio wrote on Instagram.
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge something I’ve come to realise — I’ve spent so many years taking life for granted. I made plans for the next day, the next year, always assuming tomorrow was guaranteed. I’ve seen close friends pass away, witnessed others face near-death experiences, and even then, I didn’t fully grasp just how precious life is.
“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.”
The forward also expressed his thanks and appreciation to medical staff, his West Ham colleagues, and the wider football community for the care and support he received following the incident and said he would “be back on that pitch soon.”
The Jamaica international is West Ham’s all-time leading goal-scorer in the Premier League, with 68 goals in 268 league appearances.
West Ham players showed their support for Antonio by wearing his No. 9 shirt ahead of their clash with Wolves on Dec. 9 and visited him during his stay in hospital.
The east London club also raised nearly £60,000 ($75,100) through an auction of the signed tops and kit worn in the 2-1 win, with the money being split between the NHS and Air Ambulances UK.
Jarrod Bowen, who scored the winner in the match, sold his shirt for £3,005 during the auction with the overall total of money raised reaching £29,613 which was subsequently matched by the club.
