Paul Rees, the professional driver who performed as The Stig on Top Gear from 2019 to 2022, is suing BBC Studios over the 2022 crash that left presenter Freddie Flintoff seriously injured. Rees claims he warned the BBC about safety concerns before the accident and was later 'thrown under the bus' by the studio.
Crash details and injuries
In 2022, Flintoff suffered serious injuries when the open-topped Morgan Super 3 he was driving overturned. He reached a £12 million compensation settlement with the BBC in 2023, and the show was rested. Rees, who was a passenger in the vehicle, has now revealed he was also injured and is seeking up to £150,000 for personal injury.
Rees told The Sun that the crash felt like it happened in slow motion and he was convinced they would be 'lucky' to get out and be in wheelchairs. As the vehicle rolled, he says he 'saw red', which turned out to be Freddie's blood. 'I genuinely felt like we were going to potentially die, because we had no protection,' he said. 'I was acutely aware the only thing holding my head off the tarmac was Fred's head. I still have no idea how I walked away.'
Safety warnings ignored
Rees said he warned Flintoff that he needed to wear a helmet, but the presenter told him he was supposed to wear a racing cap and comedy glasses. The crew confirmed this, and they went ahead. While in the car, Rees explained to Flintoff that he had never driven a three-wheeler before and was outside his 'comfort zone'. He claims he spoke to a Morgan mechanic who told him the car couldn't roll unless it was steered going backwards, which he relayed to the presenter.
BBC Studios' defence filings claim Rees told Flintoff: 'Now turn right… now full power, full power', as they approached the corner. The organisation denies it was negligent 'as alleged or at all' and is denying his appeals for compensation. A BBC Studios spokesperson told Metro: 'We dispute this claim and are defending it. As it's now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further.'
Medical response and aftermath
Rees claims the medic on site immediately told him he was 'not equipped' for that type of injury or situation. Due to the extent of Flintoff's injuries and the nearest ambulance being 'two hours away', Rees said his own injuries were not checked until much later. He was sent to hospital on a spinal board, and in 2023 he discovered he had broken his back. Metro understands that the BBC provided Rees with what it believes to have been comprehensive medical and welfare support following the accident.
It has been claimed his account of the crash contradicts the independent accident investigation report. Rees refutes this, saying he did not hear from the BBC after an executive told him to 'dull down' his comments, until he was offered a therapy session with other staff. He claims a BBC rep insisted he came to London for a meeting, during which he says they tried to blame him for the crash. 'I expected an arm to be put around me, and it wasn't whatsoever,' he said. 'It felt like the accident just happened over again, like I was being thrown under the bus.'
