PREM star Michail Antonio had to be cut from the wreckage of his £260,000 Ferrari yesterday after a horrific road smash.
West Ham star Michail was airlifted to hospital after fire crews took almost an hour to free him from the car crash.
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Michail was said to be in a serious condition after hitting trees at Theydon Bois, Essex.
Shocking images showed his £260,000 Ferrari FF smashed into trees after leaving the road at 12.50pm.
Fire crews alerted by other drivers battled to release the 34-year-old striker by 1.45pm.
Dad-of-four Antonio was flown to a central London hospital.
READ MORE ON MICHAIL ANTONIO
Ex-wife Debbie travelled from her home in Manchester to be at his bedside.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “He is in a serious condition.
“He is conscious and communicating but everyone at the club is very worried. We are all just praying he gets through this.”
Onlookers reported grey smoke pouring from the car which crashed in Theydon Bois, Essex — close to the home of West Ham owner David Sullivan.
One said: “There were other cars stopped and people were on their phones calling 999.
“It was awful weather, rain, wind and very slippery on the road. It didn’t look like another car was involved. It looked like it had spun out of control.
“I only found out later who he was. I hope he’s OK.”
A motorist who passed the scene added: “The right wing was ripped off, as well as the right front wheel and driver’s door.
“I could see firefighters had to cut away parts of the car to get him out.”
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Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews were called at 1.02pm. Firefighters reported that a man was trapped in his car and worked to release him by 1.45pm.
“The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.”
The Ferrari FF was the fastest four-seat car in the world when released in 2011.
It can reach 208mph and go from 0 to 62mph in 3.7 seconds.
West Ham said in a statement: “We can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident in the Essex area.
‘Thoughts and prayers’
“Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Michail, his family and friends.”
“The club will make no further comment this evening but issue a further update in due course.”
West Ham face Wolves in their next Premier League match tomorrow night.
South London-born Antonio crashed a Lamborghini in 2019.
He began his career with non-league Tooting & Mitcham.
Emergency services attended and the driver has been taken to hospital
Essex Police
He joined the Hammers from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for £7million and is the London club’s all-time Premier League top scorer with 68 goals in 268 games.
He was picked three times for England squads but never played. In 2021 he switched allegiance to Jamaica, where his parents are from.
He is divorced from Debbie, who he married in 2017, and fronts the BBC’s Footballer’s Football podcast alongside Newcastle’s Callum Wilson.
Essex Police are investigating and appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage.
The force said: “We were called shortly after 12.50pm on Saturday December 7 to Coppice Row, Epping, following reports of what is believed to be a single vehicle collision involving a Ferrari.
“Emergency services attended and the driver has been taken to hospital.”
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Previous Christmas crash in Lambo
MICHAIL Antonio was previously involved in another supercar crash — in his £210,000 Lamborghini.
He blamed an icy road when he hit a garden wall on Christmas Day 2019 — while dressed as a snowman.
He said: “I’m going like 30, maybe 35, on a 30 road.
“It holds corners so I’m thinking I don’t even need to brake, I’m just gonna go around the corner, sick car.
“As I’m going round the corner, it skids. I s*** myself and slam on the brakes.
“Worst thing you can do on ice, slam on the brakes ’cause you speed up. It’s a madness — and I’m in the snowman costume as well.”
He walked away unscathed and played for West Ham on Boxing Day in a 2-1 London derby loss at Crystal Palace.
By Len Read
