Andros Townsend recalls terrifying pitch roller accident in Thailand

Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Stadium

Andros Townsend has opened up about the terrifying moment he was run over by an out-of-control pitch roller during a match in Thailand. The 35-year-old winger, who currently plays for Thai League 1 side PT Prachuap, feared he had suffered a catastrophic injury to his knee and ankle but miraculously managed to escape without any serious damage.

The bizarre incident occurred on Saturday during half-time, as Townsend was warming up on the pitch. A member of the stadium ground staff lost control of a heavy pitch-rolling machine, which ploughed directly into the former England international. Townsend was knocked to the ground, and his left leg became trapped beneath the heavy roller. His team-mates watched on in absolute horror, with some recoiling in shock as the winger disappeared under the vehicle.

Speaking about the ordeal on Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored, Townsend expressed his disbelief at the footage of the accident.

“Every time I see it, I’m cringing, I’m in disbelief.”

A lucky escape from disaster

Townsend explained that he had noticed the machinery before the warm-up began, though he did not expect it to pose any danger. He had been attempting an aerial backheel when the vehicle struck him.

Recalling his initial thoughts when he saw the equipment on the pitch, Townsend told Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored:

“I remember thinking to myself ‘I’ve never seen that before in my career, what are they doing?'”

With the heavy roller pinning him down, Townsend had to act quickly to prevent the full weight of the machine from crushing him. He managed to use his left arm to shield himself and push back against the vehicle. Fortunately, his team-mates rushed to his aid, helping to lift the roller sufficiently for him to squeeze out from underneath.

The winger admitted that his immediate thoughts turned to his previous medical history. Having previously undergone operations on both his left knee and his left ankle, he was convinced that he had suffered another major structural injury.

Describing the terrifying moment the machine rolled over him, Townsend told Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored:

“I thought either my left ankle was going to snap or my left knee is going to snap.”

Defying the odds to play on

Remarkably, Townsend was able to stand up and walk away from the collision with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises. Despite his team-mates urging him to go straight to the team doctor for a medical assessment, the experienced winger insisted on completing his warm-up.

Reflecting on his determination to carry on despite the shock, Townsend told Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored:

“A roller is definitely not going to stop me from continuing, that’s for sure, so I was able to carry on.”

Townsend is no stranger to battling back from adversity. During his spell with Everton, whom he joined on a free transfer under Rafael Benitez in July 2021, he suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury during an FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace. That injury ended his time at Goodison Park, where he had scored seven goals in 27 appearances, including a memorable 30-yard strike against Burnley that won the Premier League Goal of the Month.

Having also represented Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, and Luton Town, the veteran winger was determined not to let a pitch roller cut his latest adventure short. He went on to make a stoppage-time appearance off the bench as PT Prachuap, nicknamed the Killer Wasps, secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Pattani.

Townsend later made light of the frightening situation on social media, joking on Instagram that playing away at Stoke City was not so bad by comparison. He also revealed that his own children did not believe the footage of the incident was real, initially suspecting it was generated by artificial intelligence.