Teenager who appeared in Flintoff’s Field of Dreams killed in car crash

A teenager who appeared in the TV programme Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams has been killed in a car crash.

Umar Mahmood, 18, who featured in the first series of the BBC show in 2022, being coached by the former England cricket all-rounder Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, died alongside 16-year-old Adam Bodi.

They were killed when an Audi A3 car left the road and hit trees in Preston, Lancashire, at about 10.55pm on Tuesday. Mahmood, who was driving the car, died in hospital on Thursday morning after suffering multiple injuries. Bodi, a rear-seat passenger, died in hospital on Wednesday. They were buried on Friday.

The headteacher of Penwortham Priory academy (PCA) in Preston, which both had attended, led tributes. Flintoff, who was involved in a crash in 2022 while filming for the BBC motoring show Top Gear that left him with broken ribs and facial injuries, has yet to comment.

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

Matt Eastham, the principal at PCA, said: “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.”

Eastham said Bodi had left the school this summer after sitting his GCSEs.

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.”

Lancashire police said they were investigating the crash and appealed for CCTV and dashcam footage.

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.”