Hull City winger Sorba Thomas walked away without injury after his car overturned in a crash close to the club's training ground on Friday morning, the club has confirmed.
The incident occurred on Millhouse Woods Lane in Cottingham, with the 27-year-old's grey Land Rover Defender left on its roof with broken windows following the collision. Images of the wrecked vehicle quickly began circulating on social media, prompting concern among supporters before the club moved to clarify the situation.
Humberside Police confirmed that emergency services remained at the scene as investigations into the crash continued, and the force urged members of the public to steer clear of the area while officers dealt with the aftermath.
Hull City issued a statement expressing relief that their player had emerged unscathed from what appeared to be a serious accident. The club said it was "relieved" to learn that Thomas had not sustained any injuries.
"The club is aware of images of Sorba's car circulating on social media and can reassure supporters that he has sustained no injuries and emerged from his vehicle completely unscathed," the club said in its statement.
Thomas only recently joined the Tigers, having completed a move from Stoke City earlier this month. The Wales international will now be hoping to shake off the shock of the crash and focus on settling into life at his new club as he looks to make an impact in Hull's colours.
The winger has built a reputation as a dangerous attacking threat during his career, and his arrival at Hull was seen as a boost for the club's ambitions this season. News of the crash will have alarmed fans given how fresh his switch to the MKM Stadium still is, but the swift reassurance from the club will come as welcome relief to supporters eager to see him make his mark.
Details surrounding the exact cause of the crash have not been released, and it remains unclear whether any other vehicles or parties were involved. Humberside Police have not yet provided further information on the circumstances that led to the Land Rover ending up on its roof, and enquiries are understood to be ongoing.
For now, attention will turn to Thomas's recovery from the shock of the incident and his continued integration into Hull's squad. The Tigers will be keen to have their new signing back involved in training and matchday duties as soon as he feels ready, though no timeline has been given regarding when that might be.
The club's training ground proximity to the crash site meant news spread quickly among staff and players on Friday morning, with many relieved to learn that the situation was not as serious as the images initially suggested. Photographs of the overturned vehicle painted a dramatic picture, making the confirmation that Thomas escaped unharmed all the more significant.
As investigations continue, Hull City fans and the wider football community will simply be grateful that a potentially serious incident did not result in harm to the player. Thomas's ability to walk away from such a crash will be viewed as fortunate, and attention will now shift back to his development as part of Hull's roster following his move from Stoke.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.