Cricket star Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has shared a shocking revelation about losing all his teeth in a severe car accident that occurred while filming an episode of Top Gear in 2022. Flintoff, who has been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder after the incident, disclosed this information during a recent appearance at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
During his talk, the former England cricket legend recounted various pivotal moments that have influenced his life and career, including a memorable incident where he consumed 13 pints of beer before scoring 142 runs against South Africa.
The disastrous crash, which left Flintoff with no natural teeth and a significant loss of his upper lip, occurred while he was driving a Morgan Super 3 trike at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome for the Top Gear show. In a subsequent Disney+ documentary reflecting on the accident, Flintoff admitted to fearing for his life when the vehicle overturned.
Describing the harrowing experience, Flintoff mentioned feeling as though he was on the verge of death when the car flipped over. He also revealed the detailed injuries he sustained, which involved a mix of hard and soft tissue trauma, broken and missing teeth, as well as fractures in the upper jaw bone.
Despite briefly contemplating that life might have been easier had he not survived the crash, Flintoff clarified that he never entertained suicidal thoughts following the incident. He credited cricket for providing him with solace and support during his recovery, emphasizing the sport’s positive impact on his life.
Since the accident, Flintoff has returned to cricket, taking on coaching roles with the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred and the England Lions team. His wife, Rachael, expressed how cricket has been instrumental in Flintoff’s healing process, giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
Following the 2022 crash, Top Gear was put on hold by the BBC in 2023 and has not resurfaced on television. Flintoff has since been involved in other TV projects, such as the documentary series Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams and hosting a revamped edition of the game show Bullseye.