Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams star, 18, dies in horror car accident
Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams star has died at the age of 18
BBC
Freddie Flintoff: Field of Dreams star Umar Mahmood, 18, has died in a horror car crash in Preston this week, alongside another pupil at his school - 16-year-old Adam Bodi.
Mahmood is reported to have suffered a series of injuries after driving an Audi A3, which left the road and collided with trees in Preston on Tuesday, September 10 - the 18-year-old later died in hospital.
His death was confirmed by his school's Principal, Mr M Eastham, with a statement reading: "We are again saddened as a school to hear the news Umar, who was in the same accident as Adam, and who left Priory two years ago, has also passed away.
"Umar was a bright, studious and well-loved member of our school community. He had a passion for Geography as well as his cricket, playing for Priory’s school team and appearing in the BBC One documentary Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams.
"It was a privilege for us here at Priory to know Umar. He was a young man who was always considerate to those around him and who showed ambition and kindness in all that he did.
"It is of course with great sadness we hear this news. We give our sincere condolences to all of Umar’s family and friends on behalf of the school, at what will be a very difficult time. They too, are in our thoughts and prayers today."
Umar Mahmood has died at the age of 18 after a horror crash
BBC
Mahmood appeared on the BBC series in 2022, after the cricket legend was tasked with creating a cricket team from scratch with reluctant Year 11's from his hometown of Preston.
It was aimed at teenagers from lower-income areas to challenge the notion that cricket is a game for middle to upper-class, privately educated children.
In an interview with his school about the show, Mahmood said he liked watching and playing cricket and was involved with his local youth team, which is where he was selected.
He said: "They said they wanted to do a documentary about cricket and give people like me an opportunity which I might not otherwise have. It was filmed every Tuesday at Preston College.
Freddie Flintoff suffered his own horror crash back in December 2022
BBC
"We were trained by Andrew [Freddie] Flintoff, who is really down-to-earth, and Kyle Hogg as well. They taught us different types of cricketing skills and it has been really good. I would say now I am a bit of an all-rounder.
"The idea is for our team of teenagers to play against league teams made up of people around our own age."
Flintoff is yet to comment on the death of the young boy, but will sympathise with his family after suffering his own major car crash whilst filming for Top Gear - revealing that he "shouldn't be here".
Back in December 2022, the 46-year-old was filming for Top Gear when the £43,000 Morgan Super 3 car he was testing flipped upside down and left Flintoff with life-changing injuries.
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Opening up about the ordeal during the first episode of the second series, Flintoff admitted: "I should not be here with what happened. It is going to be a long road back, I have only just started. Look at the positive side, I'm still here, I've got another chance, and I've got to go at it.
"I'm seeing that how it is, so I can go. I'm looking forward to seeing the lads and being around them, really am. I really am. This India trip's going to be for me just as much as them now. Determined, I really want to go."