Premier League Striker: "Close to Death"

At the beginning of December, West Ham's Michail Antonio crashed his Ferrari into a tree and broke his thigh bone in four places. Now he's speaking out about the accident – and telling what he thought when he saw what was left of the car. Then I realized how close I was to dying, says the 34-year-old to BBC.

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Premier League Striker: "Close to Death"
Photo: Dave Shopland/AP/TT

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The striker's rehabilitation after the terrible accident is in full swing. The doctors' initial prognosis was that it would take six to twelve months for Antonio to recover, but he is already two to three months ahead of schedule.

I will definitely play football again, he says.

But the feeling has not always been so positive for the 34-year-old.

After the crash, he was operated on and got "a rod in his leg with four bolts". He also recently visited the wrecking yard where he saw what was left of the Ferrari.

I got a bad feeling in my stomach. Then I realized how close I was to dying.

Antonio has six children and says that the toughest part after the accident was not being able to be there for them.

But now I'm happy and positively inclined towards life, because it feels like I've been given a second chance.

The striker has played over 300 matches for West Ham during his career in the London club, and was involved in all 14 Premier League matches this season before the incident.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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