Former England cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff has shed new light on the moments leading up to his near-fatal car crash while filming Top Gear.
Flintoff, 47, is best known for his cricket career, having played for Lancashire and England.
The 47-year-old, who won two Ashes series in 2005 and 2009, later embarked on a career in television alongside his exploits as a coach.
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The Preston-born former all-rounder is a household name, and alongside comedian Paddy McGuinness as well as journalist Chris Harris, hosted BBC motorsports show Top Gear for three years.
But in December 2022, Flintoff was involved in a serious accident while filming at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
The Lancastrian sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs, lacerations to his face, while driving a three-wheel vehicle before being air-lifted to hospital.
He has since spoken about experiencing nightmares and anxiety about the incident.
The former Northern Superchargers head coach explained how he was struggling to leave his house in the aftermath of the accident.
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Speaking in a Disney+ documentary released over the summer, the 47-year-old described how he “thought he was dead” due to him being “conscious” but being unable to “see anything” following the crash.
Flintoff later received a £9 million compensation fee from the BBC.
And in his recent autobiography, ‘Coming Home: The Moments That Made Me’, Flintoff went further into exactly what he was thinking before the crash.
Flintoff explained how the split-second decision-making he used to make while batting also “came into play” during the crash.
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“Suddenly, the car was rolling, the world was all slow-motion chaos," he said. "When everything in me slowed right down when I knew somehow exactly what was coming.
“I knew the options. If I stuck my arm out, I’d lose it. If I didn’t brace, I’d snap my neck. So, I made the call. I shut my eyes and flung my left arm; the thinking being a right-hander, I was prepared to lose my left."
The father of four, then continued describing how the car dragged him underneath for 50 metres while his body flipped and face skidded.
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“In that instant, my mind homed in on cricket’s demands – made the right call," Flintoff added. "A split-second decision. One that saved my life and changed it.”
Almost two years on from that fateful day, Flintoff is currently in Australia acting as head coach of the England Lions.
Meanwhile, he will, no doubt, be hoping that the current senior team can win the 2025/26 Ashes in Australia, which was something Flintoff never experienced in his career, despite winning two home series.
Topics: Cricket
Luke Davies