Freddie Flintoff horror BBC Top Gear crash shown for first time in new documentary as he admits ‘I remember everything’
Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is set to break his silence about his near-fatal Top Gear crash in a new Disney+ documentary launching next week.
The 90-minute film, simply titled Flintoff, will premiere on April 25 and marks the first time the former England cricketer has spoken in detail about the December 2022 accident that left him with serious facial injuries.
In the newly released trailer, Flintoff reveals he has “vivid” memories of the crash that ended his Top Gear career.
The documentary will also show footage of the devastating accident for the first time since it occurred at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
“I remember everything about it. It’s so vivid,” Flintoff says at the start of the trailer, which shows him revealing his facial scars on camera.
“This is what I’m left with,” he adds, referring to his injuries.
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The trailer includes photos of the crash, showing medical staff rushing to help Flintoff at the trackside.
According to reports, Flintoff was driving at 130mph in an open-top Morgan Super 3 car when it flipped over and crashed.
He wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time, meaning his face made direct contact with the ground.
After 45 minutes, the presenter was airlifted to hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
“I’ve lived under the radar for seven months, one of the real frustrations was the speculation, that’s why I’m doing this now,” Flintoff explains in the trailer.
The former cricket star adds that he wants to address “what actually happened” during the incident.
In the documentary, Flintoff also speaks about his feelings towards his scars, saying: “I wouldn’t say I’m embracing them but I’m not trying to hide my scars.”
Later in the trailer, he reflects that the experience of the crash is “almost like I’ve had a reset, and I’m trying to find out what I am now.”
The crash occurred at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, where Top Gear’s test track is located.
After the accident, Flintoff was left with several broken ribs and facial injuries that he has described as “life-altering”.
In a previous BBC documentary, Flintoff revealed he “struggles with anxiety” and has experienced “nightmares” and “flashbacks” as a result of the crash.
The incident led to Flintoff making a gradual return to public life, having spent significant time away from the spotlight during his recovery.
The former England cricket captain has previously spoken about the mental health impact of the crash, but the Disney+ documentary will offer his most detailed account yet.
The documentary features exclusive access to Flintoff and includes appearances from his wife Rachael and close friends.
Among those featured are Gavin And Stacey creator James Corden, comedian Jack Whitehall, and former cricketer Michael Vaughan.
The film will document Flintoff’s compelling life story from winning two Ashes series for England to becoming a British TV host.
The documentary is directed by John Dower and executive produced by Flintoff himself, alongside Andrew Mackenzie and Naomi Templeton for South Shore, and Sean Doyle for Disney+.
The crash led to the BBC “resting” Top Gear for the foreseeable future in 2023.
Flintoff received a reported £9 million settlement from BBC Studios following the accident.
The settlement came after lengthy discussions about the circumstances surrounding the crash, which effectively ended Flintoff’s three-year stint as a Top Gear presenter.
He had joined the motoring show in 2019 alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, becoming a popular addition to the presenting team.
This wasn’t Flintoff’s first on-set accident – in 2019, he had previously crashed while riding a head-first trike at 124mph during filming, though he escaped injury on that occasion.