Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has disclosed that the harrowing crash during filming for Top Gear has caused him to grapple with ‘anxiety’, ‘nightmares’, and ‘flashbacks’, and he admitted, “I genuinely should not be here.”
The 46-year-old former England cricketer has shared for the first time the profound effect the accident has had on his life in an upcoming BBC television series.
Acknowledging that he narrowly escaped death, Flintoff stated that he would have to confront the repercussions of the crash ‘for the rest of my life’ and feels ‘different’ from his previous self.
A segment captured shortly after the incident reveals the disturbing injuries he sustained. While lying in a bed with visible wounds on his face, he confesses he needs to stop ‘crying every two minutes’.
In the forthcoming BBC documentary series titled Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour, Flintoff candidly addresses the mental challenges he has faced following the accident, as he leads a group of young individuals on a cricket tour in India.
The accident occurred when he was driving an open-top car that flipped over at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey during December 2022, part of the Top Gear filming.
Freddie Flintoff in India for his BBC documentary, Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams On Tour
The former England cricketer discusses the devastating impact of the car accident in a new BBC series
England coach Freddie Flintoff during a nets session at Headingley, Leeds on May 21
Flintoff was driving an open-topped car when the vehicle flipped over at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey
Freddie Flintoff on a motorised trike while filming Top Gear
The crash ultimately resulted in the BBC’s decision to suspend the car show for the ‘foreseeable future’. Flintoff stepped away from the public eye for several months while he focused on his recovery.
In footage recorded a few months post-accident, he shares that he’s been ‘hardly’ leaving his house since the crash.
He tells the program, ‘I grapple with anxiety, have nightmares, and experience flashbacks. Coping has been incredibly challenging. But I’m realizing that if I don’t make an effort, nothing will change. I have to move forward.’
In the inaugural episode of the four-part series, which took two years to produce due to the accident, Flintoff is seen reflecting on his situation less than two weeks after the crash.
He states on camera: ‘A week and a half post-accident. Honestly, I shouldn’t be alive given what happened.’
Flintoff articulates: ‘The journey to recovery will be lengthy, and I’ve just begun. I’m already struggling and I need assistance. I truly do.’
He adds, ‘I’m not particularly good at asking for help. I need to cease crying every few minutes. I genuinely look forward to reuniting with the lads and being in their company.’
He continues, ‘I must focus on the bright side: I’m still here. I’ve been given another chance, and I need to take it. I’m viewing this as a second opportunity.’
Flintoff was driving an open-topped car when it overturned at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome
Adnan from Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour
England coach Freddie Flintoff during a nets session at Headingley, Leeds on May 21
Freddie Flintoff and Kyle in the documentary releasing tonight on BBC
When one of the young cricketers on the tour questions him about whether he feels 100 percent now, he responds, ‘Not really. To be honest, I don’t know if I ever will. I’m better than I was.’
He elaborates, ‘I’m not sure what complete wellness looks like. I am now who I am. I’ve changed from who I was. This is something I will likely have to manage for the rest of my life. So…better? Not really, just different.’
Following the accident, Flintoff reportedly reached a £9 million settlement with the BBC, funded by the corporation’s commercial wing. The broadcaster had issued an apology to him in March 2023 regarding his injuries.
Throughout the new series in which he travels to India with a group of youngsters, he acknowledges that during the trip he might need to ‘take yourself off’ to ‘go cry in my room.’
In one segment filmed seven months post-accident, it is disclosed that he has undergone several surgeries. However, the program notes that aside from medical visits, Flintoff has seldom left his home.
He tells the show, ‘I thought I could simply overcome it. I wanted to brush it off and assert I’m fine, but that hasn’t been the case. It’s been much tougher than I expected. Despite my desire to go out and engage in activities, I’ve simply been unable to.’
In the program, Flintoff tells his friend, former Lancashire teammate Kyle Hogg, that planning this cricket trip has sustained him through difficult moments.
He confides, ‘I think about it constantly and envision how fulfilling it would be to go.’
‘But I hesitate, questioning: ‘Well, am I…?’ I’ve hardly left the house. Awkwardly, I must get on a plane and be away for two-and-a-half weeks.’
‘Many of these lads have faced tough circumstances. I have to keep that in perspective. I feel guilty for not being able to do more.
‘I don’t want to dwell in self-pity, nor do I seek sympathy. Yet the thought of transitioning from being homebound for seven months to spending two-and-a-half weeks in India is daunting.
‘Everywhere I go right now, I wear a full face mask and glasses. That’s not feasible.’
Flintoff speaks candidly about his mental battles in the upcoming BBC documentary series Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour
England coach Freddie Flintoff during a nets session at Headingley, Leeds
Dylan from Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour
England coach Freddie Flintoff during a nets session at Headingley, Leeds
Reflecting on the positive outcome of the eventual trip to India with the group of young cricketers, Flintoff noted during a discussion about the program.
He told reporters, ‘I believe I rediscovered some confidence out there, which I had been lacking for a while.’
Flintoff continued, ‘I always aspired to return; I probably shouldn’t say this among you all, but I fell into a TV cycle, doing various shows.
‘Looking ahead, I certainly would enjoy coaching more, although I’m uncertain where or how. I’m quite open to different possibilities, alongside pursuing a bit more television work, as well.’
The first series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, wherein he sought ‘untapped cricketing talent in his hometown of Preston’, garnered 3.3 million viewers in its first 30 days after airing in 2022.
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour will premiere at 9 PM on BBC1 on August 13 and will also be accessible on iPlayer.
