The father of Umar Mahmood, the teenager who died in a horror crash after appearing on Freddie Flintoff’s BBC One documentary just two years ago, has said he is ‘heartbroken’.
Umar, 18, died in hospital yesterday after being seriously injured while at the wheel of an Audi A3 Sport which veered off the road in Preston, Lancashire on Tuesday and crashed into trees.
Umar’s father, Shahid Mahmood, told MailOnline: ‘I am heartbroken. He was just a young lad. To lose my young son is terrible.’
Speaking at the family’s terraced home in Preston, he added: ‘I am very sad. It is his funeral later today so I will go the mosque later.
‘His mother is doing OK but we are very sad.’
Umar Mahmood, 18, died in hospital yesterday after being seriously injured while at the wheel of an Audi A3 Sport which veered off the road in Preston, Lancashire on Tuesday
Pictured to the left of Freddie is Umar with his hands in his pockets wearing a white polo top and a black puffer jacket
Back seat passenger 16-year-old Adam Bodi (pictured) also suffered fatal injuries while a 17-year-old who was also in the car remains in hospital, with police investigating the cause of the double tragedy
Flintoff’s right-hand man on the show, Kyle Hogg, shared the news of Umar’s passing on his Instagram story with a broken heart emoji
Back seat passenger 16-year-old Adam Bodi also suffered fatal injuries while a 17-year-old who was also in the car remains in hospital, with police investigating the cause of the double tragedy.
Umar had been filmed being coached by the England cricket legend in ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’.
Flintoff’s right-hand man on the show, Kyle Hogg, shared the news of Umar’s passing on his Instagram story with a broken heart emoji.
He had been a pupil at Penwortham Priory Academy, finishing his studies two years ago, as was Adam who left after his GCSEs this summer.
The show saw England all-rounder turned TV presenter Flintoff recruit teenagers from under privileged parts of Lancashire in a bid to change people’s perspective of the sport.
Speaking to his school website in 2022, Umar said: ‘I liked watching and playing cricket and I was involved with the BYDS Youth Club in Broadgate and got selected from there.
‘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’s College.
‘We were trained by Andrew 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.
‘We played a game in the Lake District recently, that was against adults, but the idea is for our team of teenagers to play against league teams made up of people around our own age.
‘I have been interviewed a lot for the programme and they have been to my house and interviewed my family as well. I am not sure when it is being released but I am excited.’
He said that if he didn’t make it in cricket or in the TV world, he had his sights set on helping to change the landscape of places.
‘I love Geography and I want to be a Geography teacher and take a PHD and become a professor in Geography,’ he said.
‘I just enjoy the business side of urbanisation and development.’
Filming is underway for the third series of Field of Dreams.
Umar had been filmed being coached by the England cricket legend in ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’
Umar with Freddie Flintoff in his BBC show Field of Dreams
Umar (left) pictured with one of the other boys of Flintoff’s cricket team made up of Year 11 boys
Today Umar’s school paid tribute to the ‘bright’ and ‘studious’ youngster.
Principal Matt Eastham said: ‘We are again saddened as a school to hear the news that 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 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.’
In a separate tribute to Adam, Mr Eastham said: ‘Unfortunately and with great sadness, we were informed on Wednesday, 11 September that our former pupil, Adam Bodi, who had just left Priory this year and received his GCSEs in the summer, passed away following an accident.
‘We are of course, extremely upset to hear this news and the school sends its heartfelt condolences to all of Adam’s family and friends.
‘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 5 years.
‘We know that the rest of his year group will be equally upset at losing one of their own.
Former international cricketer Freddie Flintoff has hosted two seasons of Field of Dreams
Freddie Flintoff with his friend, Kyle Hogg, who appears with him on the show
‘Adam was a fantastic young man, and he, his family and friends are very much in our thoughts and prayers.’
Preston Muslim Burial Society has said both Umar and Adam will be buried at Preston cemetery this afternoon.
A spokesman said: ‘Attendees are highly encouraged to walk or carshare to the cemetery and follow the instructions provided by the volunteers.
‘May Allah bless family with sabr jameel during this difficult time.’
Umar suffered serious injuries in the horror smash on Chain Caul Way in Preston on Tuesday.
He was in a critical condition in hospital but tragically died yesterday.
Emergency services were called at 10.55pm on Tuesday after reports of a collision, Lancashire Police said.
Officers found that the vehicle had left the carriageway and collided with trees by the roadside.
A 17-year-old boy, who was a front seat passenger, suffered serious injuries and was in a stable condition in hospital yesterday.
Sgt Paul McCurrie 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 dash cam footage, or they have CCTV footage from the area, please get in touch.’
The BBC said in a statement: ‘We are very saddened to hear the news of Umar’s passing and the thoughts of everyone in the Field Of Dreams team are with his family and friends at this difficult time.’
Several people have paid tribute to the teenagers online and said their thoughts are with their families and friends.
One person said: ‘Ahh this is devastating.
‘Thinking of the families of those boys.
‘You never expect your children to go out and never come home.’
Another commented: ‘So sad.
‘Rest in peace both young men, my thoughts are with their families at this very sad time.’