'I'm different to what I was': Freddie Flintoff opens up about life after horrific car crash
The Guardian|August 06, 2024
More than 18 months after a horrific accident on the set of Top Gear, Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff has revealed his struggles with anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks after suffering life-changing injuries.
Nadia Khomami
'I'm different to what I was': Freddie Flintoff opens up about life after horrific car crash

Flintoff was driving an open-topped, three-wheel car when it flipped and slid along the track at Surrey's Dunsfold aerodome in December 2022. He was airlifted to hospital with facial injuries and broken ribs.

In a new BBC show, Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams on Tour, the 46-year-old former England star revealed how he was "crying every two minutes" and left his home only for medical appointments in the seven months after the crash in a Morgan Super 3.

In the docuseries, a sequel to 2022's Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams, he takes a group of young people from his home town of Preston on a cricketing tour of India - a trip that had to be postponed after the crash.

The first episode shows Flintoff in what appears to be a hospital bed talking about the crash. "I genuinely should not be here with what happened," he said.

"This will be a long road back and I've only just started. I'm stuck already. I need help, and I realise I'm not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes." He added: "I've got to look at the positives, haven't I? I'm still here.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView all
'Show your teeth' Arteta's message to players as Arsenal lose more ground
The Guardian

'Show your teeth' Arteta's message to players as Arsenal lose more ground

A disappointed Mikel Arteta told his players to \"show their teeth\" and said he was praying they remain injury-free during the international break after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea that meant Arsenal lost further ground in the title race.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Amorim hit by visa delay as he jets in to lead United
The Guardian

Amorim hit by visa delay as he jets in to lead United

Rúben Amorim is yet to be granted a visa despite starting his first official day as Manchester United's head coach today and will not be able to take an opening training session.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
Ødegaard brings clarity in the chaos but a few regrets too
The Guardian

Ødegaard brings clarity in the chaos but a few regrets too

On the plus side he notably improved the team. On the minus, well, there's only one of him

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Neto makes point as Arsenal falter again
The Guardian

Neto makes point as Arsenal falter again

There were people on the pitch, Chelsea substitutes to be precise, the joy of everyone connected to the club overflowing. Pedro Neto had produced the equaliser with a vicious low drive from distance and if it did not turn out to be the statement victory that Enzo Maresca and his players wanted – a first against a so-called Big Six rival – they could see the merit in a battling draw.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Beaming McKenna savours Ipswich's winning moment
The Guardian

Beaming McKenna savours Ipswich's winning moment

The away end's explosion of noise and limbs at full time left no question about what this meant to Ipswich.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
United hit cruise control as Van Nistelrooy signs off
The Guardian

United hit cruise control as Van Nistelrooy signs off

Eleven days after Manchester United routed Leicester under Ruud van Nistelrooy in the Carabao Cup here, the interim manager signed off with another easy-street win over the Foxes and so ends his four-game term unbeaten.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Campbell earns United the Sheffield bragging rights
The Guardian

Campbell earns United the Sheffield bragging rights

The Steel City derby may not be played quite as regularly as some others or quite have the same pull on a national scale but there is no doubting that what you do in this fixture can make you a legend in this particular part of the world.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Bompastor keeps cool despite more perfection
The Guardian

Bompastor keeps cool despite more perfection

Sonia Bompastor insisted her Chelsea team have won nothing yet and said she will keep their feet on the ground after the defending champions continued their strongest ever start to a Women's Super League season with a routine victory at Liverpool.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Barnes has last chop to cut down Forest
The Guardian

Barnes has last chop to cut down Forest

Nottingham Forest have been fishing in the waters Newcastle aspire to swim in. This season, Nuno Espírito Santo's team are the provincial outfit punching above their weight but in taking them down at the City Ground, Newcastle, now just a point behind Forest, showed they too possess the capability to join the throng.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
WSL roundup Hayashi saves Everton but trouble looms
The Guardian

WSL roundup Hayashi saves Everton but trouble looms

When the Crystal Palace midfielder My Cato found herself with the ball on the left, inside a minute at the VBS Community Stadium, the Everton defence followed, three of the back four shifting across and then looking back in horror as an unmarked Indiah-Paige Riley collected the pass from Cato in the middle before slotting home.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024