Former cricketing great Andrew Flintoff was on hand at the London premiere of new film recently. During his time there, he came to terms with the horrific accident that almost took his life. On December 13, 2022, a worker’s accident occurred on the Top Gear test track, Dunsfold Park Aerodrome, Surrey. Then, when Flintoff’s three-wheeled car flipped, the crash left him with life-threatening injuries.
In a tear-jerking retelling of the accident, Flintoff explained how the world around him froze in place as his car rolled over. But fortunately, his instincts as an athlete kicked in and he was ultimately able to find a way to tilt his head to avoid far more serious injuries. “As it started going over, I looked at the ground and I knew, if I get hit here on the side [of the head] then I’ll break my neck, or if I get hit on the temple I’m dead. The optimal chance [of survival] is to go prone,” he elaborated.
Often overlooked in the terrifying moments that preceded and followed the crash, Flintoff’s quick thinking was key to his survival. He later explained that he first assumed he “was dead,” since he could hear everything while not being able to view anything at all. I thought, well, is this it? Is this all there is? I mean, are my days going to be spent just seeing blackness? And as he said, oftentimes it will end in disaster.
Scott’s ordeal stretched anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes until an air ambulance could arrive. While trying to save his leg, Flintoff was forced to endure truly hellish pain and face his own mortality. “And I thought my face had come off…I was scared to death,” he said. The injuries he received were catastrophic. Later, surgeon Jahrad Haq would go on to say they were some of the “top five” most severe cases he had ever seen in his life. The injuries were called “extraordinarily complicated,” requiring multiple reconstruction facial procedures.
When Flintoff emerged from the operation, he had a very visible line extending down his nose and mouth. This scar is a daily reminder of that horrible day. He didn’t understand how he had survived. I didn’t believe I had what it took to survive, he recalls of the traumatic ordeal.
Having recovered from the trauma of the incident, Flintoff is ready to go again. He’s just released the second series of his hit BBC show, Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams. On top of this, he is the current Head Coach of the England Lions, which are the development squad underneath the full England Men’s cricket team.
In a retrospective piece in The Guardian, Flintoff’s wife Rachael discussed the support he received during this difficult period. She said, “Cricket was there for Andrew when he needed it the most. This comment highlights the importance of sports in offering comfort and direction during chaotic times.
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