Andrew Flintoff has been seen in public for the first time since suffering injuries during a nasty crash while filming for Top Gear.
Flintoff sustained facial injuries and broken ribs in the accident at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, where he had been driving an open-topped three-wheel Morgan Super 3 at 130mph on December 13. The 45-year-old, also known as Freddie Flintoff, has since quit Top Gear and has now made a return to cricket.
He is close friends with England's managing director, Rob Key, and is working with the men's team during their One-Day International series against New Zealand. He was pictured leading fielding drills in the build-up to the first match at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens on Friday.
Flintoff appeared to be wearing tape on his nose (Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)Flintoff has visible scars on his face and appeared to be wearing tape on his nose. The former all-rounder, who was wearing dark glasses and a bucket hat on the outfield, retired from cricket in 2009 following a hugely successful career in which he played 79 Tests and 141 one-day internationals for England.
He is understood to be working as an unpaid consultant with England and is not expected to travel with the side to the World Cup in India next month.
Top Gear's Freddie Flintoff seen for first time since horror crash on test track
Flintoff crashed a car while working on Top Gear (BBC/Lee Brimble)Flintoff joined Top Gear in 2019, where he worked alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. He has been involved in other accidents while filming for the car show, crashing into a market stall in Mansfield and, later, falling off a head-first trike at 124mph in 2019.
As well as Top Gear, he has worked on Sky's A League of Their Own and made documentaries for the BBC. After the crash, the BBC halted filming on Top Gear, releasing a statement.
It read: “Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear at this time.
“We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgment about how best to continue later this year.
“This has also impacted the production team, who we continue to support. Finally, there will be a health and safety review of the show, in line with our procedures.”
Speaking to The Times in March, a source close to Flintoff said: "Freddie has been seriously emotionally and physically affected by the crash."
Flintoff wore glasses to shield his face (Popperfoto via Getty Images)Former Top Gear presenter Angela Rippon told The Sun of the accident: "I was just so sorry as they [Freddie and his co-presenters] are not professional drivers and are asked to do things that even professional drivers very often would find difficult.
"I think Freddie and his family decided this was an ask and a task too far and his life is more important than a television programme."
Flintoff has been more than welcomed into the England set-up with the former international star having an impact on the group, led by skipper Jos Buttler, who said: “So he’s been starting to do some stuff in cricket. It’s just great for him to be around, he’s obviously an England legend and it’s just nice to have him around the group.
"He’s not been brought in with any specific role, just to be around and observe. A few of the lads can pick his brains a little bit and he’s settled in really well. It’s great to have him with us. Just for this series.”
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