Michail Antonio posts heartwarming birthday message after surviving horror car crash which left him 'close to dying'

The West Ham United forward was involved in a scary road traffic accident in December 2024. After colliding with a tree, the Jamaica international had to be cut from the wreckage of his Ferrari by fire crews before being airlifted to hospital and undergoing surgery on a lower leg fracture.

Antonio was initially expected to be ruled out of professional football for at least 12 months, but he recently enjoyed a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. He is now back in England and revelling in reaching the age of 35.

Antonio has posted on social media: "Since my 30th birthday I’ve woke up on my birthdays not really fussed about the day, and I did the same thing this morning until the realisation hit me (that) I actually almost didn’t make it to this birthday,' he wrote on Instagram.

"So I just want to thank God for saving me and allowing me to make it to another birthday. I also want to say happy birthday to everyone whose birthday it is today. Let’s live it up."

The former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday star went on to post a video of signing ‘Happy Birthday’ to himself, alongside the message: "It's my birthday, I'm going to have fun if I want to."

Antonio told the BBC One programme Morning Live of visiting the scrapyard that now houses his written off vehicle: "It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. It just made me realise how close I was to dying. I had seen the pictures, but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me.

"All I know is that I hit a tree - I don't know how I hit a tree - and that the police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats. From the crash, I've been more of an emotional man. I was avoiding going back because I was slightly embarrassed by the crash and the accident. Obviously I've almost died in the car crash."

Antonio will see his contract at West Ham expire in the summer, but an extension to those terms has already been mooted. He has taken in 323 appearances for the Hammers, registering 83 goals and 40 assists.