Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff made his public appearance last week, where his injuries were hidden by his sunglasses and a small blue hat. There were bruises on his nose and under his lips.
On 08 September 2023, people spotted the former sports and television personality at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens. New Zealand and England cricket teams had a one-day international face-off that day.
Before that, Flintoff had reportedly agreed to know the nature of the stuff he was doing on Top Gear. He just learned to go with the flow and get stuck in. He did not say or post anything regarding the accident publicly.
The accident mentioned further in the article was not Flintoff’s first one. He had a similar experience in 2019 when he lost control of his motorized trike at 125 mph while racing against Harris and McGuinness.
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What Happened To Freddie Flintoff?
Flintoff joined Top Gear in 2019 and suffered severe injuries while filming a BBC series in December 2022. He used to co-host the series with the comedian Paddy McGuinness and the motoring journalist Chris Harris.
Paddy McGuinness and Flintoff replaced Rory Reid and Matt LeBlanc in Top Gear Series 27. The show became successful and moved to the primetime slot on BBC One from BBC Two in 2020.
Flintoff was reportedly filming a segment for Top Gear Series 34, a popular BBC motor show, on a test track at Dunsold Park Aerodrome. He was driving an open-topped Morgan Super 3 car at full speed, 130 mph. However, the car flipped and slid. According to a source, Flintoff was on the track but worse at driving at a high speed. So, it could happen to anyone.
A helicopter arrived after forty minutes, and Flintoff was airlifted to the hospital. He reportedly got several ribs broken and suffered from facial injuries. Those injuries were declared non-life threatening when the accident occurred. He did not work anywhere while getting treated.
Some sources say he wore a helmet, while some say he did not. His sixteen-year-old son, Corey, did not know what happened to Flintoff at the unfortunate moment but was glad to see his father alive. Later, in March 2023, it was revealed that the vehicle he drove before the accident did not have an airbag.
The on-site medical team rushed to help Flintoff, and he spent five weeks in hospital. His wife Rachel reportedly asked him to quit Top Gear, and he did so. After that, he publicly appeared at England’s game, but the accident took a toll on him physically and mentally. Meanwhile, other Top Gear staff members resigned due to PTSD after witnessing the incident.
How Freddie Flintoff’s Fans Reacted
Many Flintoff fans tweeted to express their happiness regarding Flintoff’s comeback. His fans were worried for him, while some were relieved after spotting him giving warm-ups on the field. Thus, they do not expect him to get involved in many public activities.
Flintoff’s fans know he has traveled a lot, and there is still a long way ahead. His confidence will grow, and scars will disappear with time. Meanwhile, Top Gear fans know Flintoff is not the first to suffer injuries on the show.
Richard Hammond had a car crash in 2006 Top Gear. He reportedly got brain damage, which led to depression, memory loss, and paranoia. BBC did not continue with the show after the horrifying accident occurred with Flintoff, conducted a health and safety review of the show through a third party, and did not declare the return.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, they did not find evidence of a critical failure. Thus, it did not require a formal investigation. However, BBC might start the show again following more safety regulations. BBC apologized to Flintoff for the car crash and promised to support him during his recovery.
Flintoff won seventy-nine caps and is the former captain of England’s cricket team. According to the white ball captain, Jos Butler, Flintoff is returning to cricket with little contribution. However, it is great to see him around, though he does not perform any role. He only observes the players and tries to guide them.
Flintoff will support his squad for the remaining part of the series but will be absent during the upcoming World Cup in India.
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