Featured Image Credit: Disney+
Topics: Injury
Luke Davies
Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff received a huge compensation fee from the BBC after he was involved in a serious car accident while filming Top Gear back in 2022.
Flintoff, 47, was seriously hurt in the accident, which happened at Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December 2022.
The former Lancashire and England all-rounder was seriously injured and had undergone a number of operations on his face during his recovery.
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Following the incident, BBC Studios released a statement, which read: “BBC Studios has reached an agreement with Freddie that we believe supports his continued rehabilitation, return to work and future plans.
"We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery."
On Thursday, 17 August, the first footage of the incident was released showing the full extent of the accident.
Flintoff opened up in a trailer of new Disney+ documentary simply titled Flintoff.
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"I remember everything about it… it’s so vivid,” said Flintoff.
"I’ve lived under the radar for seven months, one of the real frustrations was the speculation, that’s why I’m doing this now, (about) what actually happened."
"He wasn't wearing a crash helmet," fellow host Chris Harris told Joe Rogan in 2024. "And if you do that, even at 25, 30 miles an hour, the injuries that you sustain are profound. I was there on the day, I was the only presenter with Fred that day.
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“The car's upside down.
"So, I ran to the window, looked out and he wasn't moving. So I thought he was dead. I assumed he was, then he moved."
Last year, Flintoff touched on the accident in his 'Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams' show.
He said: "I genuinely should not be here after what happened. This will be a long road back and I’ve only just started, I’m stuck already.
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"I need help, and I realise I’m not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes. I’ve got to look at the positives, haven’t I? I’m still here, I’ve got another chance, I’ve got to go at it. I’m seeing that as how it is, a second go."
It has been widely reported that the former cricketer received a fee of around £9m for loss of earnings in the two years since the incident.