Flintoff show teenager's death an 'utter tragedy'

Ollie Samuels
BBC News, Preston
Penwortham Priory Academy Umar Mahmood smiles for the camera and is wearing his school uniform of a black blazer with white shirt and yellow-and-navy striped tie. He is holding a cricket bat over his right shoulder.Penwortham Priory Academy
Staff at Umar Mahmood's former school said he had a "passion for geography as well as his cricket"

A teenager who appeared in former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff's BBC television show Field of Dreams was driving at more than twice the speed limit when he died following a crash, an inquest has heard.

Umar Mahmood, 18, was driving an Audi A3 Sport when it left the road and hit trees on Chain Caul Way in Preston, Lancashire, at about 22:55 BST on 10 September 2024.

Adam Bodi, 16, was also fatally injured in the crash while the other passenger, 17 at the time, was seriously hurt.

Coroner Kate Bissett said the teenagers' deaths had been caused by "a terrible misjudgement" and were an "utter tragedy".

Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff is wearing a dark-coloured tracksuit and is holding a cricket bat in some indoor nets. He is speaking to Umar Mahmood who is wearing white shorts and a grey top with grey pumps.
Umar Mahmood (left) appeared in a BBC television series about youth cricket that was presented by Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff

Preston Coroner's Court was told their car was travelling at approximately 80mph (129 km/h) in a 30mph (48 km/h) zone before it left the road and struck two trees.

Adam Bodi died in hospital on 11 September while Mr Mahmood died the following day.

Mr Mahmood was one of a group of young cricketers from Lancashire who featured in the BBC series.

His former school, Penwortham Priory Academy, described him as "bright, studious and well-loved".

Field of Dreams saw former England all-rounder Flintoff, who is from Preston, visit under-privileged parts of Lancashire to find and build a team of 11 teenagers who had never previously considered playing cricket.

Speaking in July 2022 about his involvement in the show, Mr Mahmood described Flintoff as "really down to earth".

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