Michail Antonio's first words after his horrific car crash have been revealed by the dog walker who found him.
On Saturday afternoon, it was confirmed that Antonio was involved in a road traffic accident following rumours and speculation been shared on social media.
West Ham issued a statement on the matter and then a second positive update confirmed the No.9 was in "a stable condition" and was "conscious and communicating" in hospital after the frightening incident.
The local police put out a statement of their own and confirmed they had attended to an incident in Coppice Row, Epping after a "single vehicle collision" took place.
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Antonio looks unlikely to play again this season and could spend a year on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg which required surgery, as confirmed by West ham.
"West Ham United can confirm Michail Antonio has undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture following a road traffic accident on Saturday afternoon," the club said.
"Michail will continue to be monitored in hospital over the coming days.
"Everyone at the Club wishes Michail a speedy recovery and wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the football family at large for the overwhelming support shown since yesterday's news, as well as extending a heartfelt thank you to the emergency services and first responders who attended to Michail in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and the medical team who continue to aid him in his recovery."
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The Sun have obtained further details of the Jamaica international's frightening ordeal, including information from the witness who found him in his car.
Antonio, driving in his Ferrari FF is said to have hit a tree - with the impact causing him to fly over to the passenger side of the vehicle. He is believed to have been trapped in the wreckage for around an hour and when concerned dog walker Samuel Woods pulled over in a panic, he was concerned by the state of the car and how out of it Antonio was.
“I said to him ‘hello’ to see if anyone was alive," the 34-year-old carer recalled to the newspaper.
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“I heard sirens and told him that help was on its way.
"He was so disorientated. He said, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?’
“The paramedics got there really fast. I couldn’t believe what happened. The car smelt of petrol.
“I just said, ‘You’ve had an accident’. He didn’t reply. He was looking around trying to make sense of what I just said. He was sitting in the passenger side.”
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Antonio is one of West Ham's most popular and longest-serving players, having joined from Nottingham Forest for a fee of £7 million in 2015.
He has scored 83 goals in 323 appearances, including a club record 68 in the Premier League.
SPORTbible has reached out to Michail Antonio's representatives.
Topics: West Ham, West Ham United, Michail Antonio
Josh Lawless