Mikael Antonio (35, West Ham United) reflected on the horrific car accident he experienced about three months ago.
The British 'BBC' reported on the 17th (Korea time) that "Antonio does not know how the car crashed into the tree. All he knows is that he did," revealing a one-on-one interview with Antonio.
Antonio is a forward who will go down in West Ham's history. He boasts exceptional physicality and joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015, scoring 83 goals in a total of 323 games. Notably, he holds the record for most goals in the club's history with 68 goals in 268 Premier League matches.
However, Antonio nearly lost his life in a major traffic accident last December. He lost control of his vehicle while driving on a rainy road and crashed severely into a tree in Hayden Bois, Essex. Firefighters reportedly took nearly an hour to extract Antonio from the accident scene.
At the time, the British 'The Sun' reported, "Antonio was trapped in the wrecked Ferrari for almost an hour after the collision before being transported to the hospital. He had to escape from the wreckage of a £260,000 (approximately 489 million won) Ferrari due to the horrific accident."
Looking at the accident photos, Antonio's vehicle was nearly split in half. The passenger side, presumed to have collided with the tree, was so badly damaged that its original shape was hardly recognizable. Just looking at the debris scattered around gives a sense of how severe the impact was.
In an interview with BBC, Antonio recalled, "It was a windy, humid, and terrible day. The back of the Ferrari kept shaking, and I felt it was unsafe. I had it for about three weeks and was considering returning it quickly."
At the time, Antonio suffered from short-term memory loss due to the shock of the accident. He stated, "I do not remember anything" and added, "It is strange. I was awake during the process and was told that I talked to police and the people who discovered me."
Antonio also recalled, "When the police arrived and found me, I was between the two seats. In fact, I was not sitting in the driver's seat." He said, "They mentioned that I looked like I was trying to climb out of the window. However, my legs were broken so badly that the pain would have prevented me from getting out."
Antonio literally came close to death. He referred to it as "a horrible accident" and said, "The hardest part is that I almost couldn't be with my kids. I feel like I have received a new chance at life. I have started to think about life in a happy and positive way."
About three weeks ago, Antonio saw the wreckage of his car at the junkyard. He said, "I felt a strange sensation in my stomach. It made me realize how close I was to death. I saw it in pictures, but in reality, it was ten times more serious. The car was really a wreck. It was difficult for me."
Antonio, who had two broken legs, explained, "The femur was broken in four places. The doctors installed a column with four bolts in my thigh to reconnect it through consolidation. The first doctor hoped I wouldn't put weight on my leg for about three months, but now you can see me walking. The second specialist said I should increase the load on my leg from 10% to 100% within three weeks."
Antonio once again showed strong willpower. He is working hard to return to the field, focusing on rehabilitation training in Dubai while putting the terrible memories behind him. He is reported to have shown positive and steady progress while exercising in warm weather.
When asked if he can be the previous Antonio again, he replied, "Yes. 100%. I will run again." He added, "People have always doubted me. I have always believed in my mental strength. This is just another setback, and it will not stop me."
Antonio also mentioned, "Two weeks ago, I couldn't sleep a wink the night the physiotherapists asked if I had retirement insurance," but added, "Now I am focusing on the gym. I go six times a week. I have always been positive. It is a horrific accident and the biggest injury of my career. But I am two to three months ahead of the original recovery pace. I know I can run again, and if I run, I can regain my sharpness."
Meanwhile, Antonio met with fans on the 11th at the London Stadium, West Ham's home ground. This was his first visit since the traffic accident. The Premier League reported, "Antonio made an emotional return to the London Stadium three months after suffering a serious traffic accident and received a warm welcome."
That day, West Ham lost 0-1 to Newcastle, but it was a meaningful day for West Ham fans. The Premier League explained, "Antonio made an emotional return to the London Stadium before the kickoff against Newcastle. West Ham fans welcomed Antonio, the club's all-time leading scorer (68 goals), with a large banner reading 'Mikael Antonio - Our No. 9.' He appeared visibly moved."
Antonio greeted fans at the London Stadium. The West Ham supporters' group 'Alliance' said, "After learning that Antonio would soon return to the pitch, we started crowdfunding. We partnered with the club to make it happen. We are very grateful to all the fans who helped show how much he means to the West Ham family."
Graham Potter, the West Ham manager, also sent encouraging messages. He stated, "We have always focused on checking if Antonio was okay. He is recovering and receiving all support. He had to deal with a big issue, but he did fantastically." He added, “I do not want to rush deciding on a return date. Antonio's recovery is progressing in the right direction. We are not hurrying, but it is definitely positive."
[Photo] BBC, The Sun, Mikael Antonio, Sky Sports social media.
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