The former England cricket star was severely injured in a horror crash in 2022.
Rachel Wilson, the wife of Top Gear star Freddie Flintoff, has opened up about the first time she saw his facial injuries following his car crash.
In December 2022, the 46-year-old was in a three-wheel roadster as he filmed an episode of the BBC motoring show with co-stars Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Tragedy struck when the vehicle overturned and landed upside down with the former England cricketer inside.
Luckily, Flintoff emerged from the flipped car and was airlifted to hospital following the crash.
Despite suffering several broken ribs and some pretty damaging facial injuries, doctors told him he was “lucky to be alive”.
Flintoff’s wife Rachael rushed to his hospital bedside but, before she could see her injured husband, she was told by nurses to “expect the worst”.
A source close to the family told The Sun: “The injuries were more severe as the car didn’t have a roof. It was a freak accident and somehow the car flipped over and the two men were dragged along.
“Freddie and the crew member were both wearing helmets, but it was still a severe accident.
“Everyone on the scene was shocked by how serious it was and they were very worried about the two men strapped in.”
Rachael and Freddie dated for three years before marrying in March 2005 – having welcomed first child Holly a year earlier.
They now have four children together, Holly, Corey, Rocky, and Preston.
Now, almost two years after the traumatic event, Flintoff’s is releasing a new documentary series called Field of Dreams on Tour, in which he details the struggles he and his family have gone through since the day of the accidemt.
The first episode aired on BBC One last night, and saw Freddie reveal his lacerated nose, cheek and mouth in a tearful home video.
The shaken sportsman revealed that he suffered from nightmares, flashbacks and cried every two minutes, insisting: “I shouldn’t have survived”.
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On the crash, Flintoff said: “I don’t want to sit and feel sorry for myself, I don’t want sympathy, but it’s going from being here for seven months, to going to India.
“I’m struggling with my anxiety, I have nightmares, I have flashbacks, it’s been so hard to cope. But I’m thinking if I don’t do something, I’ll never go. I’ve got to get on with it.”
He continued: “I need help, and I realise I’m not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes. I’ve got to look at the positives, haven’t I?
“I’m still here, I’ve got another chance, I’ve got to go at it. I’m seeing that as how it is, a second go.”
You can watch the first episode on BBC iPlayer now.
