Freddie Flintoff says Top Gear crash 'changed my life forever' and left him with anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks
Andrew Flintoff, also known as "Freddie", has mentioned that he had a tough time dealing with fears, bad dreams and memories of the Top Gear accident that had a lasting impact on his life.
The TV host and ex-England cricket player suffered severe facial injuries and cracked ribs during an accident while shooting Top Gear at Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey, in December 2022.
The situation caused him to withdraw from the show, which has now been put on hold indefinitely by the BBC.
Flintoff had been out of the public eye for an extended period before he reemerged in the cricket scene as a coach.
At the start of the year, in the second installment of Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams, the cricket celebrity talked about his journey to recovery.
"I thought I could easily brush it off. I tried to brush it off and reassure myself that 'everything is fine', but unfortunately, that hasn't been the reality," Flintoff expressed to the BBC.
He mentioned: "It has been much more challenging than I expected. Even though I desired to go out and be active, I simply haven't been able to.
I have a difficult time dealing with anxiety. I often experience nightmares and flashbacks, which has made it challenging for me to manage.
Earlier, the BBC announced that they had reached a financial agreement with Flintoff, with The Sun reporting that the settlement was valued at £9 million.
A representative from BBC Studios stated that they have come to a mutual agreement with Freddie that they believe will assist in his ongoing recovery, help him get back to work, and support his future goals.
We have offered a heartfelt apology to Freddie and will keep assisting him as he goes through his journey of recovery.
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The BBC had previously stated that it would not be suitable to continue producing the Top Gear series after conducting an internal investigation into the incident.
Flintoff came back to cricket as a member of the England coaching team. He is now working full-time as a coach for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred tournament.
