Cricket icon Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff has emotionally praised the NHS medics who treated him after his near-fatal Top Gear crash, calling them "absolute heroes" who "saved my life".
The 45-year-old sports personality suffered serious facial injuries and broken ribs when his modified three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 flipped over during filming at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey last December.
The Harrowing Incident
Flintoff, who was not wearing a helmet during the high-speed run, was airlifted to a major trauma centre where surgeons worked tirelessly to reconstruct his face. Witnesses described the crash as "horrific", with the vehicle reportedly rolling multiple times.
NHS Staff Praised
"The NHS staff were incredible from start to finish," Flintoff revealed. "The surgeons who put me back together - they're proper heroes. I owe them everything." The former England cricket captain has been recovering privately since the accident.
Production Halted
The BBC immediately suspended Top Gear filming following the incident, with the future of the show now in doubt. Flintoff had been a popular co-host alongside Paddy McGuinness since 2019.
Medical experts suggest Flintoff's recovery may take years, with potential for permanent scarring. However, friends say his trademark humour remains intact: "He's already joking about getting his face redesigned by the NHS."
