School pays tribute after teenager who appeared in Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams dies in car crash

A teenager who appeared in Andrew Flintoff’s TV show Field Of Dreams has been killed in a car crash.

Umar Mahmood, 18, who featured in the first series of the hit BBC documentary in 2022, being coached by former Lancashire and England cricket all-rounder Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, died along with another teenager, 16-year-old Adam Bodi.

Their former school head paid tribute to both ex-pupils, who were killed when an Audi A3 Sport car left the road and hit trees on Chain Caul Way in Preston, Lancashire, at around 10.55pm on Tuesday.

Mr Mahmood, who was driving the car, died in hospital on Thursday morning after suffering multiple injuries in the crash.

Adam, a rear seat passenger, died in hospital on Wednesday.

A third boy, aged 17, who was a front seat passenger, suffered serious injuries but is in a stable condition in hospital.

All three are from Preston.

Tributes were paid to both teenagers, who will be buried on Friday, by their former school, Penwortham Priory Academy in Preston.

Matt Eastham, principal at the school, said: “We are again saddened as a school to hear the news that Umar Mahmood, who was in the same accident as Adam, and who left Priory two years ago, has also passed away on Thursday, September 12.

“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 that 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.”

Mr Eastham said Adam had only just left the school having received his GCSE results this summer.

He said: “Adam was an amazing pupil, of whom we have nothing but fantastic memories.

“He was popular, bright, confident and had a fantastic sense of humour alongside being a first-class footballer, who had been part of our football team here at Priory for five years.

“We know that the rest of his year group will be equally upset at losing one of their own.

“Adam was a fantastic young man, and he, his family and friends are very much in our thoughts and prayers.”

Lancashire Police said they are investigating the crash and have appealed for CCTV and dashcam footage.

Sergeant Paul McCurrie, of Lancashire Police’s Road Policing Unit, said: “This was a collision with tragic circumstances.

“Two young people have died, and I wish to extend my sympathy to their families, loved ones and friends.

“We are investigating how the collision happened, and we continue to ask for anyone who witnessed it to contact us.

“Also, if anyone was driving in the Chain Caul Lane area around the time of the collision and has dashcam footage, or they have CCTV footage from the area, please get in touch.”

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