Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff's life has been a whirlwind of highs and lows, but nothing quite prepared fans for the shocking events of December 2022.
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The former cricketing hero and beloved TV personality faced a devastating car crash during a Top Gear filming session, leaving him scarred both physically and mentally.
Now his new Disney+ documentary is peeling back the curtain on his harrowing experience.
What happened to Andrew Flintoff? Inside the horrific Top Gear crash
The accident that changed everything for Andrew Flintoff occurred in December 2022 during a Top Gear filming session at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome. Flintoff had been part of Top Gearsince early 2019, bringing his humour and daredevil spirit to the popular motoring show.
Flintoff was behind the wheel of a three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 when disaster struck. As reported by The Telegraph, the car flipped over after one of the front wheels lifted off the ground, despite Flintoff only travelling at 40 to 45 miles per hour and not wearing a helmet.
The aftermath was grim. Flintoff suffered severe injuries, including broken ribs and extensive facial damage, requiring a helicopter evacuation to St George's Hospital in south London. He underwent five hours of emergency surgery.
In Disney+'s documentary Flintoff, he reveals:
I didn’t think I had it in me to get through.
This sounds awful: part of me wishes I’d been killed. Part of me thinks ‘I wish I had died’.
I didn’t want to kill myself. I don’t want to mistake the two things. But I was thinking, ‘This would have been so much easier.’
Graphic images shown in the documentary depict Flintoff's swollen, stitched, and bloodied face, laying bare the full extent of his ordeal. Describing the stark physical changes he endures daily, he said:
There are moments when I forget and I’m just living. It’s so nice. And then you just get a stark reminder.
I get a feeling over my face because it’s all tight, and it’s different. I’ve got no teeth, so something will fall out my mouth as I am eating. Or I look in a mirror and it all comes back.
Following this harrowing incident, Top Gear was officially put on hiatus by the BBC in March 2023, acknowledging the severity of the situation and prioritising Flintoff's recovery.
Flintoff criticises the TV industry
In the wake of the accident and the ensuing fallout, Flintoff's revelations in his Disney+ documentary provide an unfiltered glimpse into his mindset. Besides sharing raw moments of vulnerability, Flintoff also criticised the culture within television and sports.
As reported by Daily Mail, Flintoff accuses the BBC and Top Gear of treating him 'like a piece of meat' in the pursuit of higher ratings. He claimed that BBC tried to ‘push boundaries’ of what was normally possible for the sake of ratings. He said:
That’s the danger that TV falls into — and I found out the hard way, eventually.
Everybody wants more, everybody wants that thing that nobody has seen before, everyone wants that bigger stunt. In some ways it’s, "Let’s have that near miss, because then that’ll get viewers."
He pointed out the dangerous demands placed on him, a phenomenon he likened to his experience in professional sport.
Notably, Yahoo! highlighted that this was not Flintoff's first close call on Top Gear, although it was by far the most serious. Following months of negotiations, Flintoff agreed to a settlement with the BBC in October 2023, reported to be worth £9 million, compensating him for two years of lost earnings.
Throughout the documentary, Flintoff doesn't shy away from detailing the psychological scars left by the accident. He admitted:
I thought I could just shake it off, but it’s not been a case of that. was full of anxiety. I had nightmares, I had flashbacks. It's been so hard to cope with.
Adding:
I don't know what completely better is.
I am what I am now. I'm different to what I was. It's something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. Better? No, different.
Yet, despite the darkness, he has managed to step back into the world he once thrived in.
Flintoff's life after the crash
Despite the immense hurdles, Flintoff's story doesn't end with despair—instead, it marks the beginning of an inspiring new chapter.
Flintoff's first public sighting after nine months of seclusion came in September 2023 when he joined England's cricket team coaching staff for a match against New Zealand in Cardiff, reported Yahoo!
Friend and managing director of England men's cricket, Rob Key, encouraged Flintoff's return. England captain Jos Buttler said at the time:
He’s not been brought in with any specific role, just to be around and observe.
Flintoff soon fully embraced coaching. He took on significant roles including head coach of the England Lions and Northern Superchargers men's team, sharing:
My time with the England men's team has been a reminder of just how special cricket is to me.
His return to TV was more measured but heartfelt. Flintoff hosted a festive special of Bullseye on ITV, delighting fans with his warmth and humour.
Moreover, he brought his beloved Field of Dreams series back to screens, documenting a cricket team's journey from Preston to India, offering glimpses of his enduring passion for the sport.
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Sources used:
The Telegraph: Andrew Flintoff reveals graphic new pictures of his injuries after Top Gear crash
Daily Mail: Andrew Flintoff blasts the BBC for treating him 'like a piece of meat' to get higher Top Gear TV ratings after near-fatal car crash
Yahoo!: Freddie Flintoff's life since Top Gear crash and settlement
