Freddie Flintoff was left with serious facial injuries following a high-speed collision during filming of the BBC show in December 2022. The cricket legend has spoken about the long-term toll it has taken on his mental health
Entertainment Saffron Otter Assistant Features Editor and Georgia Burns 22:18, 13 Apr 2025
Freddie Flintoff has spoken about coming to terms with his altered appearance following a life-changing crash on Top Gear that left him seriously injured.
The 46 year old sporting hero suffered grave facial injuries, including gashes and lacerations across his face, following a high-speed accident while shooting for the BBC programme in December 2022.
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His features were badly scarred, but Flintoff has since shared an image of his recovered visage ahead of his new Disney+ documentary shedding light on the incident's impacts, the film titled 'Flintoff' is set for UK release on April 25.
Flintoff first discussed the harrowing effects of the trauma in his series Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams, which premiered last August.
He expressed uncertainty regarding his recovery, stating he didn't know what "completely better is."
With poignant honesty, he stated: "I am what I am now. I'm different to what I was. It's something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. Better? No, different."
Post-accident, the England coach suffered not only physical harm but also psychological distress, which led to anxiety so intense that it kept him confined to his house for months where he found himself "crying every two minutes" and having recurring flashbacks and nightmares whenever he tried to sleep, reports the Mirror.
Freddie disclosed: "I thought I could just shake it off. I wanted to shake it off and say 'here I am, I'm alright'. But it's not been a case of that, it's been a lot harder than I thought. As much as I wanted to go out and do things, I have just not been able to."
In the BBC One documentary, viewers are shown footage taken by Freddie himself a week and a half after his accident.
The video, which he recorded on his phone, starkly reveals the severity of his facial injuries.
Reflecting on the incident, he expressed: "I genuinely should not be here with what happened. It's going to be a long road back and I've only just started. I'm going to need help. I really am. I'm not the best at asking for it."
In a new Disney documentary, Flintoff discusses the profound impact cricket has had on him, stating it has "shaped him".
He reflects: "Looking back on the highs and the lows, including the challenges I've faced since my accident, has been a real reminder of why my career in the sport has meant so much."
The former cricketer sustained injuries at Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December 2022.
Last year, he reached a settlement with the BBC, believed to be around £9m. It was clarified that the payout did not come from the TV licence fee, as BBC Studios operates commercially.
The documentary, titled Flintoff, is set to debut exclusively on Disney+ in the UK and Ireland on April 25.
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