Freddie Flintoff has revealed he made a split-second choice that he attributes to saving his life throughout his terrifying Prime Gear accident.
The 46-year-old sportsman was concerned in a near-fatal incident that left him with vital facial accidents and damaged ribs whereas filming the motoring present in December 2022.
Britain’s most famed cricketer admitted he initially thought he “was lifeless” after he flipped over a Morgan Tremendous 3 three-wheeled sports activities automobile on the Prime Gear monitor on the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
Talking in his new Disney+ documentary, Flintoff, the sportsman mentioned: “It was a three-wheeler, [with] a strengthened windscreen, so I’m uncovered. In all probability doing about 40-45 [miles per hour].”
“The wheel got here off on the entrance. It’s a humorous factor rolling a automobile as a result of it’s some extent of no return and all the pieces slows down,” he defined.
“It’s so bizarre. Because it began going over, I regarded on the floor and I knew that if I went on the facet, I’d break my neck. If I hit my temple, I’m lifeless. The very best probability is [to] go face down.”
Flintoff continued: “I bear in mind hitting [my jaw] however then I bought dragged out. The automobile went over, then I went over the again of the automobile after which [I] was pulled facedown on the runway about 50 meters beneath the automobile.
“Then it hit the grass and flipped again,” the sportsman continued. “I assumed I used to be lifeless as a result of I used to be acutely aware however I couldn’t see something.
“I used to be considering, ‘Is that it?’ Black for the remainder of my days. However I had a hat over my eyes. So I pulled my hat up and I assumed no I’m not, I’m alive. It’s the Prime Gear monitor. This isn’t heaven,” he recalled.
“Then, I regarded down and the blood simply began coming down and my largest concern was I didn’t suppose I had a face. I assumed my face had come off. I used to be frightened to loss of life.”
Flintoff then sat in agony for 40 minutes whereas he waited for an ambulance to achieve the positioning of the crash in Surrey and take him to the key trauma unit at St George’s hospital in London.
In the meantime, the cricketer’s spouse, Rachael Wools – who he married in March 2005 – rushed to London regardless of not figuring out the extent of her husband’s accidents or which hospital he’d been taken to.
“Once I did see him I walked within the room, he was within the mattress… his eyes. I’ve by no means seen somebody so scared in his eyes,” Wools mentioned.
“He was me to know the way unhealthy he was so I completely pulled myself collectively and I simply didn’t cry. I simply mentioned ‘It’s wonderful, you’re going to be OK. I can’t consider how superb you look.’”
“Earlier than we bought house, I did name the youngsters and mentioned to them it’s a must to be as sturdy as you’ve ever been. Your dad does look completely different in the meanwhile. It’s going to get higher however I don’t need you to look shocked and horrified as a result of that’s going to knock him.
“That was laborious. Andrew doesn’t know I did that,” she admitted.
Flintoff acquired £9m in compensation on account of his accidents. The crash led the BBC to droop Prime Gear manufacturing for the “foreseeable future”, deeming it inappropriate to proceed.
Elsewhere within the documentary, the sportsman revealed he didn’t go away the home for over half a yr following his accident and nonetheless suffers with anxiousness over leaving his house years later.
When Flintoff returned to screens final yr with a BBC collection titled Freddie Flintoff’s Area of Desires on Tour, he revealed that he additionally nonetheless suffers with nightmares and flashbacks.
“It’s been so laborious to manage,” he mentioned. “However I’m considering if I don’t do one thing, I’ll by no means go. I’ve bought to get on with it.”
Talking about his “life-altering” accidents in Flintoff , the cricketer mentioned: “I am not saying I’m embracing them, however I am not making an attempt to cover my scars.”
He added: “It is virtually like a reset. I am looking for out what I’m now. I’ve all the time appeared to have the ability to flick a change, I’ve bought to search out that change once more.”
Flintoff will premiere solely on Disney+ within the UK and Eire on 25 April.
