An 18-year-old who appeared in Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams BBC TV show has died following a crash. Umar Mahmood was driving an Audi A3 Sport when it left the road and hit trees on Chain Caul Way, in Preston, at about 22:55 BST on Tuesday. A 16-year-old boy travelling in the back of the vehicle was also killed.
Mr Mahmood was one of a group of young cricketers from Lancashire who was featured on the BBC series. His former school, Penwortham Priory Academy, described him as "bright, studious and well-loved". The tribute said Mr Mahmood "was a young man who was always considerate to those around him and who showed ambition and kindness in all that he did".
The academy said it was "with great sadness that we hear this news", adding Mr Mahmood's family would be in their "thoughts and prayers today". It added that Mr Mahmood, who left the school two years ago, "had a passion for geography as well as his cricket".
Field of Dreams saw former England all-rounder Flintoff, who is from Preston, visit under-privileged parts of Lancashire to find 11 teenagers, who had not considered the sport before, to form a side. Speaking in July 2022 about his involvement in the show, Mr Mahmood said he had enjoyed watching and playing cricket and had been selected to join Flintoff's team while a member of the BYDS Youth Club in Preston.
“They said they wanted to do a documentary about cricket and give people like me an opportunity which I might not otherwise have,” he said in a statement, which was issued at the time by his school.
Mr Mahmood said he and his fellow young cricketers were trained by Flintoff, who was "really down to earth", along with Kyle Hogg. "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,” he said, adding he had been interviewed a lot for the programme "and they have been to my house and interviewed my family as well".
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."
Lancashire Police confirmed on Wednesday that the boy travelling in the back of the car, named by the same school as Adam Bodi, had also died in the crash. The academy also paid tribute to Adam, saying he was a popular boy with a fantastic sense of humour. The academy sent its "heartfelt condolences to all of Adam's family and friends".
The Crash
The collision happened on Chain Caul Way in Preston, at around 10.55pm on Tuesday, September 10. Police said that Mr. Mahmood's vehicle had left the road and collided with trees. A 17-year-old boy, who was a front seat passenger, suffered serious injuries and was in a stable condition in hospital the following day.
Investigating the Cause
Sgt 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."
Seeking Witnesses
Police are appealing for witnesses and any dashcam footage from the scene of the incident. "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," McCurrie said.
Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams
The show, which first aired in 2022, follows Flintoff as he goes on a journey to change the lives of young people in Lancashire who may not have had the opportunity to play cricket before. The show is described as a heartwarming and inspiring watch, and it has been praised for its efforts to get more young people involved in the sport.
Freddie Flintoff's Near-Fatal Crash
The crash comes after former England star Flintoff spoke out about the near-fatal collision he had while filming for Top Gear in December 2022. The incident happened midway through the filming of the second season of Field Of Dreams.
The tragic loss of Umar Mahmood is a reminder of the fragility of life. It is a stark reminder that the things we take for granted, like being able to play cricket with friends, can be taken away in an instant. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Umar Mahmood and Adam Bodi at this difficult time.
Remembering the Lost: A Legacy of Kindness
Umar Mahmood, who left Penwortham Priory Academy two years ago, had a passion for geography as well as cricket. His former school said 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 this legacy of kindness that will be remembered by those who knew him. It is this legacy that will live on long after his passing.
