Freddie Flintoff revealed he “should not be here” after his Top Gear horror crash left him with severe injuries and crippling anxiety. The 46-year-old confessed that he was unable to leave his home for months and it has been a “long road” to recovery.
The former cricketer relives the pain and returns to the small screen in a brand-new BBC documentary which includes home-made videos which he filmed just days after the incident. In some scenes, the athlete was spotted with bloody facial injuries which were badly scarred.
He told the Radio Times:“I genuinely should not be here with what happened.” Before adding: “It’s going to be a long road back, and I’ve only just started. But I’ve got to look at the positives: I’m still here and I’ve got another chance to have a go at it.”
Seven months later, after multiple operations to repair the facial injuries and countless trips to the hospital, he reflected on the emotional and psychological damage caused by the crash. Initially, he thought he “could just shake it off” but it’s not been the case.
In the honest chat, he confessed that it’s been tougher than he thought. Freddie has had to cancel plans because he has been confined to his home needing to recover.
The trauma he suffered went much deeper than physical changes to his body. He shared that he was riddled with anxiety and had nightmares when he slept.
“I had flashbacks. It’s been so hard to cope with.” Before sharing that he doesn’t want “sympathy” but wants to move forward.
In the trailer, the former Lancashire County Cricket Club star was seen in an emotional clip where he told the camera of his struggles.
“Week and a half after my accident. Genuinely should not be here after what happened. This is going to be a long road back and I have only just started and I am struggling already,” he said.
In the continued clip he was heard saying, “I need help. I really am not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes.”
Freddie was self-filming the video as part of his BBC series Field of Dreams on Tour.
However, the series nearly got cancelled following the shocking car crash as it was unclear if Freddie would ever return to television.
Freddie was driving an open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 at high speed in December back in 2022 when it flipped over.
He had been due to take young cricketers from his hometown of Preston on a tour to India just three months later in March 2023 which subsequently was cancelled after his significant injuries sustained.
You can read the full interview in this week’s Radio Times out now.
