Freddie Flintoff is back behind the wheel, three years after a terrifying Top Gear accident left him with life-changing injuries.
The former English cricket star and TV presenter, 47, revealed on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored that he has been cautiously rebuilding his confidence on the road over the past few months.
Nervous Steps Back Into Normal Life
“I’ve only been driving about four or five months… and I’m alright now,” Flintoff admitted.
He described how even simple activities, like golf, had been off-limits for a while, as the crash left him hesitant to engage in activities that might trigger fear or flashbacks.
Flintoff explained, “Just being slapped behind the wheel brings all those thoughts back.
I’m better than I was, but it’s always something I’ve got to be aware of.”
The Top Gear Crash That Changed Everything
In December 2022, Flintoff was driving an open-top Morgan Super 3 three-wheeled sports car at Dunsfold Aerodrome when it flipped off the Top Gear test track.
Capable of reaching 130mph, the car overturned while Flintoff was not wearing a helmet.
The crash left him with a shattered jaw, dozens of broken teeth, and severe facial abrasions.
The ordeal was made even more agonizing by a 30- to 40-minute wait for an air ambulance to take him to St George’s Hospital in South London.
“I didn’t even have the benefit of being unconscious,” Flintoff recalled, emphasizing how traumatic the experience was.
Struggles With PTSD and Recovery
While his physical injuries have largely healed, Flintoff continues to battle the psychological aftermath.
He described nightly flashbacks and PTSD triggered by simple reminders of the accident. “It’s always a work in progress,” he said.
“After the crash, I had all types of treatment—from trauma care to psychiatric care—but I had to get on with it.”
Family and cricket have been central to Flintoff’s recovery.
He credited his wife, Rachael, and their children for keeping him grounded, saying, “Rachael was strong. I suppose she had to be for both of us.”
Returning to Cricket and Media Work
Since the crash, Flintoff has returned to cricket, coaching the Northern Superchargers and working with the England Lions side.
He also starred in a Disney documentary released in April, which highlighted his recovery journey and his wife’s unwavering support.
Flintoff reflected on how his instincts as a professional athlete may have saved his life during the crash.
“I thought, ‘I’m right-handed,’ so I tried to brace with my left.
I got dragged under the car, but I was alive. Possibly that moment saved me.”
Facing the World Again
The hardest part, he said, was confronting his own appearance.
“I didn’t want to die, but I didn’t know if I had it in me to carry on… The only times I left the house were for medical appointments. I just didn’t want to face the world.”
Flintoff has since written Coming Home: The Moments That Made Me, which delves into his life experiences, including the Top Gear crash.
He has also filmed a third series of his BBC show Field of Dreams, showing fans that he is gradually reclaiming his life.