Former England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff has delivered a raw and emotional account of the horrific 2022 Top Gear crash that left him with significant facial scarring, confessing there was a part of him that wished he had died in the accident.
The Terrifying Crash and Its Immediate Aftermath
Flintoff, who was a host on the popular BBC motoring show, was involved in a serious incident in December 2022 while filming. The three-wheeled vehicle he was driving overturned on the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. The former all-rounder was airlifted to hospital for emergency treatment, beginning a long and arduous road to recovery.
Reflecting on the moments immediately after the crash, the 48-year-old revealed a chilling thought process. "I thought I was dead," Flintoff admitted. "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?"
He described how his hat had covered his eyes, and upon pulling it up, he realised he was not in heaven but still on the Top Gear track.
A Struggle with Lasting Consequences
In a candid interview earlier this year, Flintoff opened up about the profound psychological impact of the crash, which he says has left him forever changed. "After the accident I didn't think I had it in me to get through," he stated, before making a startling confession about his state of mind during recovery.
"This sounds awful... part of me wishes I'd been killed. Part of me thinks, I wish I'd died," Flintoff revealed. He was quick to clarify that these were not suicidal thoughts, but rather a reflection on the ease death might have brought compared to enduring the ongoing consequences. "I didn't want to kill myself... I wouldn't mistake the two things. I was not wishing, I was just thinking, 'This would have been so much easier.'"
Despite the darkness, Flintoff has found a way forward, focusing on his family. "Now I try to take the attitude that the sun will come up tomorrow and my kids will still give me a hug. I'm probably in a better place now," he said. However, he remains realistic about a full recovery, stating: "I don't think I'm ever going to be better, just different now. I'm getting there slowly."
Medical Shock and a Return to the Spotlight
The severity of Flintoff's injuries shocked even experienced medical professionals. Jahrad Haq, the consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon who treated him, said the case was among the most complex he had seen in over two decades of trauma work.
Fans of the sporting icon can see him back on television this Christmas Day, as he hosts a special festive edition of Bullseye on ITV. Beyond his TV work, Flintoff has also made a return to cricket, having taken on coaching roles with the England Lions and, until October 2025, The Hundred team Northern Superchargers.
The crash serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in filming high-octane television, and Flintoff's brave testimony highlights the often-hidden long-term trauma that can follow such life-altering events.
