The 13-time English international was playing for PT Prachuap FC, a club competing in the top division of Thai football, when the incident occurred. According to Townsend, he had noticed the lawnmowers on the sidelines before the warming-up session but had not given them much thought. However, during the session, one of the machines suddenly rolled over him, leaving him with minor injuries.
Townsend recounted the incident, stating that he had initially thought the lawnmowers were just part of the training equipment. However, when the machine rolled over him, he was left shaken. Fortunately, he escaped with only minor injuries, including bruises and a few bumps.
The incident has left Townsend's children in disbelief, with them initially thinking the video of the incident was AI-generated. Townsend had to reassure them that it was real, and he has since spoken about the incident, laughing it off and sharing the story.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety during training sessions, and it is unclear what measures PT Prachuap FC will take to prevent such incidents in the future.