FOREVER THANKFUL
‘You guys are my heroes’ – Emotional moment Michail Antonio meets paramedics who saved his life after horror car crash
A piece of clothing Antonio to the medics
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WEST HAM star Michail Antonio touchingly sat down with the "hero" paramedics who helped save his life after his terrifying car crash.
The 35-year-old crashed his Ferrari FF into a tree in Epping, Essex on a stormy December 7 and was rushed to hospital.
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He suffered a broken leg in the accident and underwent surgery the following day.
And now the Hammers' record Premier League goalscorer has personally shown his appreciation to the men who helped him cheat death.
Antonio met with the two first responders Rob Moon and Dr James Moloney on the BBC's Morning Live show.
The striker cannot remember the crash so he met with the heroic Essex and Herts Air Ambulance crew to "fill in the blanks".
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After meeting them in an ambulance hangar, Antonio began: "I want to say thank you because I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys.
"So you guys are basically my heroes."
Antonio's accident happened during Storm Darragh, which meant the air ambulance helicopter couldn't take off due to strong winds.
Dr Moloney and Moon - who were dispatched to the scene in a rapid response car - said they thought they recognised the Premier League footballer straight away.
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Antonio was shocked to learn that the medics found his lifeless body in the back seat before noticing his fractured femur bone.
As football fans, the paramedics clocked that they were helping a Premier League striker.
Michail Antonio given hero's welcome as he returns to West Ham for 1st time since escaping death in horror Ferrari crash
But their suspicions were confirmed after spotting a clue - his No 9 'Antonio' shirt in the foot-well.
Dr Moloney said: "We treat everyone the same whatever happens. But not many people have a shirt with their name on the back."
To get Antonio talking, the medics spoke to him about football, including his different managers and career highlights.
The pair revealed that he was talking a lot and speaking repetitively, which is common when people bump their heads.
I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys.
Michail Antonio
The medics put him on a trolley before boarding him into the ambulance, and tried to keep him warm.
Antonio added: "For me, personally, I could never do your job.
"If I go there and see blood or people in trouble, I would just panic or faint. It's definitely something I wouldn't be able to do."
The seriousness of it hit home when the forward saw the remains of the car at a scrapyard a few weeks ago.
The former Nottingham Forest star explained: "Being involved in a major accident can have life-changing physical and mental effects.
"I've processed it to a certain degree, but I think the emotions are going to take a long time. Mentally, trauma lasts a long time."
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He also revealed that it was harder for his loved ones to see him that way.
He said: "My family probably experienced the incident more than I did.
"They had to see how I was in the hospital. I don't remember my face being cut or going down for surgery the next day.
"They lived it. They have those memories."
While there was some initial doubt as to whether or not he would ever play football again, Antonio is determined to get back on the pitch.
He previously told the BBC: "The most difficult part is that I almost wasn't there for my children.
"It's just made me happy, positive about life, because I've got another chance at life.
"During this, we kept it away from the kids. My eldest saw it, and he struggled with it."
Not many people have a shirt with their name on the back.
Dr James Moloney
Antonio would watch West Ham games weekly throughout the early stages of his recovery to motivate him.
The Hammers icon admitted that hearing his name being sung by supporters "helped him massively".
He made an emotional return to the London Stadium for West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle last month.
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Antonio has also been able to return to light training.
Morning Live is made by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions. Watch weekdays from 9.30am on BBC One.
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