Reggae Boy Antonio discharged from hospital

Reggae Boyz striker Michail Antonio says he is grateful to be alive after he was discharged from the hospital yesterday following his harrowing car accident in Essex, England, last month.

The Jamaican international was involved in a car crash on December 7 where he had to be removed from his car and airlifted to a London hospital.

His club, West Ham United, had confirmed reports of the accident in a social media release hours after.

“West Ham United can confirm striker Michail Antonio has today been involved in a road traffic accident. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Michail, his family and friends at this time. The club will issue an update in due course,” their statement read.

Antonio sustained a broken leg from the accident and underwent surgery on a lower-limb fracture. Following the operation, the striker is expected to be on the sidelines for an extended period.

After being discharged from the hospital to continue his recovery process at home Antonio wrote on social media that he is happy to have escaped the incident with his life.

“Every year around this time, I’m asked what I’m grateful for, and every year I’ve struggled to find the right words. But this year, I know exactly what I’m grateful for, being alive,” Antonio wrote on Instagram.

The veteran striker explained the accident has reaffirmed with him the value of life as he closed out 2024 with a new perspective.

“I want to take a moment to acknowledge something I’ve come to realise. I’ve spent so many years taking life for granted. I made plans for the next day, the next year, always assuming tomorrow was guaranteed. I’ve seen close friends pass away, witnessed others face near-death experiences, and even then, I didn’t fully grasp just how precious life is,” Antonio explained.

“What I’ve been through recently has opened my eyes. Life is fragile, and every single moment matters. I’m so grateful to God for giving me the strength to keep going and for allowing me to still be here.”

Following the incident, Antonio will miss the remainder of West Ham’s Premier League season as they currently sit 13th after 19 games played.

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui said Antonio’s successful surgery comes as good news for the club, and stated the player should now be focusing on his recovery alongside his family.

“It has been very tough for all of us, but much more for him and his family. Fortunately, it was a miracle, looking at the pictures of the car,” he stated.

“There are more important things: the dad, the brother, the son that he is. This is more important about Mic. We are happy because he has overcome the surgery. After, let’s see.”

Antonio also thanked the medical staff, football fans and his well-wishers for their support and is confident of his return to the sport in the future.

“To the emergency services, the NHS [National Health Service], the Air Ambulance, everyone at the Royal London and Cromwell hospitals and everyone from top to bottom at West Ham United FC - the medical team, the board, all of the staff, my team mates and the amazing West Ham fans, I honestly could not have got through this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Antonio will also miss Jamaica’s Gold Cup qualification fixture against St Vincent and the Grenadines in March, as well as Concacaf World Cup qualification second round matches in June against the British Virgin Islands and Guatemala.