The teenage star of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams BBC show has died in horror car crash.
Umar Mahmood, 18, has died in a horror smash in Preston, Lancashire, his school have confirmed.
The teenager was taken to hospital with in critical condition with serious injuries after an Audi A3 Sport left the carriageway and collided with trees on Tuesday.
Umar was a pupil at Penwortham Priory Academy before finishing his studies two years ago.
Another pupil at the school, 16-year-old Adam Bodi, has also died in the car crash.
Umar Mahmood, 18, has died in a horror smash in Preston, Lancashire, his school have confirmed
Umar appeared on Freddie Flintoff’s BBC One Field of Dreams documentary in 2022 as the sporting 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, Umar said he liked watching a playing cricket and was involved with his local youth team, which is where he was selected from.
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.
‘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.’
Umar with Freddie Flintoff in his BBC show Field of Dreams
A statement from Penwortham Priory Academy 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 2 years ago, has also passed away on Thursday, 12 September.
‘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.’
Preston Muslim Burial Society have confirmed both Umar and Adam will be buried at Preston cemetery today at 3pm.
A spokesman for the society 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.’