Michail Antonio leaves hospital and returns home after terrible car accident that left him with a broken leg
Michail Antonio has been released from hospital after a horrific car accident which left him with a broken leg.
The 34-year-old was driving his £260,000 Ferrari when went off the road in Essex on December 7.
The force of the crash caused the Hammers star to move into the passenger seat before becoming trapped inside the car for more than 45 minutes as emergency services struggled to free him.
Antonio subsequently underwent surgery before West Ham assured worried fans that the player was in a stable condition after distressing images of the vehicle emerged online.
His injuries are expected to keep him out of action for at least a year, with Antonio's contract set to expire this summer.
This has led the club to consider extending his contract to cover the recovery period, with talks expected to take place soon.
Antonio arrived at West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and became the club's all-time Premier League top scorer with 83.
Two days after the accident, Antonio's teammates paid tribute to him before the decisive league match against Wolves by warming up in shirts bearing his name.
The match shirts and shirts were later auctioned and £60,000 was raised for both the NHS and Air Ambulance UK Charity.
“It has been special to see the West Ham family and wider football community come together to support Mic over the last month,” said his West Ham team-mate. Jarrod Bowen.
“We are all grateful for the care that both the NHS and Air Ambulances UK have given Mic during a difficult time for him and his family, and for what they continue to do every day for people across the country.
“Coming together in difficult times is what it means to be part of West Ham United “This is about and on behalf of the team, I want to thank everyone.”
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After initial fears that Antonio was at risk of losing his life were aborted, concerns arose that the striker would not be able to return to the field.
However, the West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui He expressed his confidence that Antonio will return to football.
“The most important thing is that he is alive, he is fine,” Lopetegui said. “He broke his femur, but I'm sure he will recover.
“It's going to take time. It was time.
“Now it's time but the good news is that there is time because when you see the car, the accident was terrible, that's why we are happy.
“Because in the end, even though we are not happy because we lost a very important player for us, we are happy because he will be ready.
“Now he is strong, he will surely recover in the next month and will be ready to be a player. The first thing is to be a man and then to be a player.”
