Freddie, who explores the fallout of his accident in a new Disney+ documentary, said he struggles with flashbacks from the accident in his day-to-day life but cricket helps with the trauma
Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has said returning to cricket is the “one good thing” that has come from his horror car accident.
The sportsman turned TV presenter was left with significant facial injuries following the gruesome incident while filming Top Gear in December 2022. But he revealed he’s “not fighting” the trauma of the crash at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey anymore and added playing cricket was the only time he didn’t suffer.
He said: “If there is one good thing that has come out of it, it’s getting back into cricket.” Freddie, who explores the fallout of his accident in a new Disney+ documentary, said he struggles with flashbacks from the accident in his day-to-day life.
But he said he doesn’t experience the same trauma when he’s involved with cricket.
He added: “It’s always going to be there, but in a strange way, I’ve got an acceptance of it now. I’m not fighting it.
“I still get flashbacks at night and anxiety and other stuff but I know it’s happening and I’m accepting of it.
“When I’m around cricket I don’t get it; I’ve found comfort in the dressing room again.
“It has made me appreciate the game and the people a hell of a lot and made me realise that this is the place where I want to be.
“This is the place I feel most comfortable and this is what I get the most pleasure from, get most excited about and I care about it.”
Freddie said TV work “doesn’t necessarily make you happy”, but still plans to “do the odd Bullseye now and again”.
He added: “Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still do the odd Bullseye now and again because I’ve got bills to pay, but it’s cricket first and everything else on my terms to fit around that.”
The accident caused the BBC to suspend production on Top Gear for the “foreseeable future”, deeming it inappropriate to continue.
He received £9m in compensation as a result of the crash, which left him with horrific injuries.
Photos of the devastating crash was also shown in the Disney trailer, where medical staff can be seen rushing to help Freddie on the side of the track.
Recalling his rise to fame as an England cricketer, he said: “I was a shy kid growing up, they start calling me Fred and then I found this alter-ego.”
Discussing his struggles in the public eye, he said: “It was me against me. Everyone wants more. ‘You’re just a commodity’.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
