Horror as $50 million star airlifted to hospital after sickening crash

Sickening details of a crash and rescue operation have emerged after a star footballer needed to be cut from his car.

Football star Michail Antonio had to be cut from the wreckage of his $450,000 Ferrari after a horrific road smash.

The West Ham ace was airlifted to hospital after fire crews took almost an hour to free him from the car crash.

Michail was said to be in a serious condition after hitting trees at Theydon Bois, in the UK.

Shocking images showed his fancy Ferrari FF smashed into trees after leaving the road in the afternoon.

Fire crews alerted by other drivers battled to release the 34-year-old striker. The dad-of-four was then flown to a central London hospital.

Ex-wife Debbie travelled from her home in Manchester to be at his bedside.

A source told The Sun: “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.”

Michail Antonio was trapped in the wreckage. Photo: Twitter, @Whu_Centre.

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.”

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 334km/h and go from 0 to 100km/h 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.

“Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital.

The footballer is making a recovery.

“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.”

South London-born Antonio crashed a Lamborghini in 2019.

He began his career with non-league Tooting & Mitcham and has earned more than $50 million throughout his career.

He joined the Hammers from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for more than $7 million and is the London club’s all-time Premier League top scorer with 68 goals in 268 games.

West Ham United's English midfielder Michail Antonio. Photo: AFP PHOTO / OLLY GREENWOOD.

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.

“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,” a statement read.

“Emergency services attended and the driver has been taken to hospital.”

West Ham next faces Wolves on Tuesday morning (AEDT).

— This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Horror as $50 million star airlifted to hospital after sickening crash