West Ham striker Michail Antonio has announced the death of his mother Cislyn through a deeply personal Instagram post on Sunday.
The 35-year-old forward revealed that his mother had passed away after spending five years confined to her bed.
In his emotional message, Antonio wrote: "Hello, mum. It's your baby boy. Your time in this world as come to an end.
"The last five years has been difficult. Seen you sat in that bed not be able to walk, but nothing can prepare you for you leaving me."
Michail Antonio has announced the death of his mother in a tragic post on social media
PA
The Jamaica international expressed mixed emotions about his mother's passing, acknowledging both his grief and relief that her suffering had ended.
Antonio continued: "As much as this hurts, you not being here, but the fact you're no longer in pain and your no longer restricted to a bed. You're free now."
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The striker's heartfelt words prompted an immediate response from supporters. One West Ham fan wrote: "Oh, so very sad to read this. He's had a rough time."
Another supporter commented: "Man has been through a lot! Personally saw a lot of tragedy in the past 2 years! RIP."
Others expressed their sympathy, with one saying: "Thoughts with him at this difficult moment." Another added: "Awful news for Michail Antonio. He has had a terrible time of late. And I really, really feel for him. Thinking of you, Mickey."
The past five years have been particularly challenging for Antonio, who experienced the loss of his father in March 2020 after seven years of hospital visits.
More recently, the striker survived a life-threatening car crash in December 2024 that left him with a severely broken leg. The incident required a three-day hospital stay and extensive recovery.
Antonio made his return to football last month, appearing as a substitute for Jamaica in a Gold Cup match against Guatemala.
This marked his first competitive appearance since the December accident that nearly claimed his life.
Antonio's future at West Ham remains uncertain as contract negotiations have stalled. The club has offered the striker a short-term deal with a reduced base salary heavily weighted towards appearances.
Michail Antonio took to social media to reveal the tragic news
However, Antonio's representative Mike Appiason reportedly believes his client could secure better terms elsewhere, with other clubs willing to offer longer contracts on improved wages.
After a decade at the club, featuring 323 appearances and 83 goals, Antonio's time at West Ham appears to be drawing to a close.
Manager Graham Potter is looking to reduce the average age of the squad, having already released long-serving players Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski and Vladimir Coufal.
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