Tributes paid to Flintoff’s Field of Dreams star following horrific crash

A school has paid tribute to a former pupil, and Freddie Flintoff Field of Dreams star, who died in a horror crash. 

Matt Eastham, headmaster at Penwortham Priory Academy, has paid tribute to Umar Mahmood, who died in hospital after a crash earlier this week.

Umar died, aged 18 appeared in the 2022 series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams.  

Umar, the driver of the car died on Thursday morning in hospital, after he suffered serious injuries.

Matt said Umar, who left the school in 2022, was “a bright, studious, and well-loved” member of the school community.

He said: “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.”

Tributes were also paid at the school to Adam Bodi who died in hospital after the same crash. The teenager had just received his GCSE results in the summer.

The Preston Muslim Burial Society said both teenagers will be buried on September 13th at Preston Cemetery.

The crash happened at 10.55pm on Tuesday the 10th of September on Chain Caul Way, between Leeward Road and Nile Close.

A 17-year-old boy, who was a front seat passenger, suffered serious injuries and is in a stable condition in hospital.

Police are still investigating the collision, and continue to appeal for witnesses and for CCTV and dash cam footage from the area.

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.”