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Tottenham and Argentina great Ossie Ardiles has revealed details of his narrow escape from a horrific road accident in the Falkland Islands and thanked the British air force for their rescue efforts.
Ardiles was driving a car containing his son Freddy, former Tottenham and Argentina teammate Ricky Villa plus another four passengers when it overturned in an ugly crash on Monday.
The 61-year-old, who was in the Falkland Islands filming a documentary, was airlifted to the King Edward VII Hospital in Port Stanley and needed 35 stitches in a head wound, but is now resting with family and friends in Argentina.
On Tottenham’s website he said: “I can only say thank you to all the Tottenham fans for their messages of support. Thank you very much for the concern and the best wishes.
“It was a huge accident. I was driving. This reinforced the thought that my Spurs mates always have about me: I cannot drive!
“Ricky was my co-pilot and we were saved because we were using our seat-belts. My son Freddy was in the car as well, plus four crewmen.
“We lost control of the car and we overturned. We were like in a cocktail, up and down, up and down, until we finally we stopped with a bang.
“It is a miracle that no one was badly injured. Ricky had just a little bruising – always a lucky man! I had lots of tests, no internal injuries and 35 stitches later, I am okay now.
“After the accident, I was the main concern because I was losing a lot of blood. However, when I saw the RAF helicopter, I knew my ordeal was over.
“From there to the Intensive Care Unit in the King Edward VII hospital in Port Stanley where we were looked after superbly by everybody.
“I am in Cordoba now in the house of my brother, resting with family and friends. I will be back in London next week and hope to see you all at White Hart Lane.”
Ardiles signed for Tottenham from Huracan just months after winning the 1978 World Cup with Argentina.
He went onto win the 1981 FA Cup with Tottenham before heading to Paris Saint-Germain for a year on loan during the Falklands War.
Ardiles returned to have a key role in Tottenham’s Uefa Cup triumph in 1984, playing a total of 311 times for the north London side.
Despite a brief and unsuccessful spell as Tottenham manager he is still revered by the club’s fans.


Ossie Ardiles reveals details of narrow escape in Falklands car crash

Ossie Ardiles needed 35 stitches in a head wound. Photo: SCMP Pictures

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