Pitch roller runs over footballer

Former England winger Andros Townsend was hit by a heavy pitch roller during warm-up for a Thai League 1 match on Saturday. His left leg got stuck under the vehicle, but he escaped with only bumps and bruises.

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

The moment it happened

During warm-up in Pattani, a staff member appeared to lose control of the pitch roller. Townsend said he was fortunate to fall at the right time, preventing any bones from breaking as the heavy vehicle rolled over him.

“I was fortunate I did manage to fall onto the floor at the right time, so nothing snapped”

Crushing pressure and fear

Townsend described the moment the roller was fully on him as terrifying. He used his left arm to relieve pressure while teammates helped lift the vehicle off. He feared his ankle and knee, both previously operated on, would snap.

“At that moment where it was crushing my left leg, it was quite terrifying”

Continued playing after the incident

Despite the accident, Townsend continued warming up while teammates urged him to see a doctor. He came off the bench late in the match as his team won 3-0. He recovered within minutes and was able to hobble away.

Townsend's career context

The 35-year-old former Tottenham, Luton and Crystal Palace forward now plays for PT Prachuap in Thai League 1. He won 13 caps for England and has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career.

Making light of the scare

Townsend joked on Instagram that the incident made him reconsider his complaints about away matches at Stoke. He said the roller accident was "definitely not going to stop me from continuing" his career.

“It turns out Stoke away wasn't so bad after all”