Paul Rees, the racing driver who was a passenger in the vehicle Freddie Flintoff was driving during a near-fatal crash on the set of Top Gear, is suing BBC Studios for personal injury. The incident, which occurred in 2022 at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, left former cricketer Flintoff with life-changing injuries, including broken and lost teeth, fractures to the upper jawbone, and rib injuries. Flintoff reached a compensation settlement with the BBC in 2023 for a reported £9 million, after which the broadcaster rested the show.
Details of the Lawsuit
According to court documents, Rees is seeking up to £150,000 in compensation for personal injury from BBC Studios. It was previously not publicly known that anyone else was in the open-topped Morgan Super 3 when it overturned. Rees was giving Flintoff driving advice from the passenger seat at the time of the crash.
In its legal response, BBC Studios denied negligence and stated that Rees did not complain of any injuries at the time or after the crash. The company also alleged that Rees's "faulty instructions" led to the accident. Court documents reveal that microphones were installed in the car, and Flintoff expressed concern when the front wheel lifted while taking a corner. However, Rees allegedly reassured him that the vehicle could not roll over.
Alleged Instructions and BBC's Defense
BBC Studios' defense filings claim that when Flintoff approached the same corner again, Rees instructed him to "now turn right... now full power, full power." The document states that "a front wheel lifted and because on the claimant's instruction the presenter continued to apply power the Morgan turned over." The filing also notes: "At no time in the period after the accident did the claimant suggest that he had suffered any injury in the accident."
BBC Studios released a statement saying: "We dispute this claim and are defending it. As it's now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further." BBC News reported that it had seen Rees's claim form filed in December 2025 but not yet the full details of his claim.
Flintoff's Reflection on the Crash
In a Disney+ documentary last year, Flintoff reflected on the accident, admitting he thought he was dead. He said: "I thought I was dead, because I was conscious but I couldn't see anything. I was thinking, is that it? Is that it? You know what I mean? Just black for the rest of my days? My hat came over my eyes - so I pulled my hat up and I thought, no I'm not [dead], I'm on the Top Gear track, this is not heaven." Surgeon Jahrad Haq, who treated Flintoff, described the injuries as "very complex" in the documentary.
