Revealed: Freddie Flintoff’s near-fatal Top Gear crash in December left the former England cricketer with injuries so severe that he was still ‘covering up his face’ just six weeks ago, before revealing it in public for the first time last week

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was still covering his face six weeks ago after his horror car crash while filming Top Gear last year, a former teammate has revealed.

The 45-year-old former cricket star was airlifted to hospital after breaking a rib and suffering facial injuries in a high-speed collision while filming an episode of the BBC TV car series at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey nine months ago .

Flintoff – who also narrowly cheated death after a 120mph crash in 2019 – was seen in public for the first time since his crash last Friday after returning to the England cricket team and was photographed with cuts to his face.

The father-of-four, one of English football’s great all-rounders and the hero of the 2005 Ashes triumph, quit his job on Top Gear after the accident and the BBC canceled the latest series of the show – with his future remains doubtful.

While it is unclear whether Flintoff will ever return to TV screens, he returned to senior cricket in England last Friday by joining the coaching staff at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens as a mentor for the one-day international series against New Zealand.

Flintoff appeared to be in good spirits as he continues to recover from facial injuries and several broken ribs. Now his former England friend and team-mate Steve Harmison has given new insight into his condition after taking action talksport.

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff helps warm up at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton yesterday

Andrew Flintoff is pictured after a match at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton yesterday

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff (right) at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff last Friday

Harmison, who played for England alongside Flintoff between 2002 and 2009, said he was happy to see him in public again but only recently revealed he was still covering up his facial injuries.

He also claimed Flintoff was training a guide dog as he plotted a route back to working life. “It was great to see him back,” he said.

“It was tough, you’ve seen the pictures of him with a smile on his face, but I saw him about six weeks ago when my son Charlie and his son Rocky were playing against each other and it was great to see him.

“Obviously I lived with Andrew for the better part of 15 years and we went through all of our careers together. It was fantastic to see our two sons play against each other, Northumberland against Lancashire.

‘I saw him then, but at that time he was covering his face when he walked around – believe it or not, he was training a seeing-eye dog and I’m sure he’s doing better now than before because he tripped around three o’clock. time on our way across the field!

‘He was in great form but to see him in the England group, the main team, was fantastic. This England team is a good bunch and they are not only great cricketers but also great ambassadors.

“Freddie was always brilliant in the dressing room and so to have Andrew in the dressing room with them and feel comfortable and let him get under the table because they’re going to be in for a show.”

Flintoff is one of English football’s great all-rounders and was an iconic symbol of the famous 2005 Ashes-winning side.

Steve Harmison (L) – who played for Flintoff (R) for seven years – revealed new details about his recovery from the accident

The serious accident saw Flintoff leave Top Gear and several staff members who witnessed it have taken indefinite sick leave due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Flintoff’s family (pictured with his wife Rachael and three of their four children) reportedly begged him to stay away from the set while he recovered from his injuries

In total he played in 79 Tests and 141 one-day internationals before retiring after England won the 2009 Ashes.

He made something of a comeback to T20 cricket in 2015 but was seemingly disillusioned with the game as he launched a highly successful television career that culminated in the hugely successful Top Gear programme.

Flintoff is still recovering from the injuries he suffered in the horror crash that almost killed him nine months ago – which has since raised concerns over whether proper health and safety checks had been carried out.

He was left with serious facial wounds and several broken ribs after his three-wheeled open-top car, which had no airbags, overturned while filming the popular BBC car show on December 13.

Flintoff then had to wait an ‘agonizing’ 45 minutes for an air ambulance – with the BBC later apologizing to him.

He has since left Top Gear and several staff members who witnessed the accident have taken indefinite sick leave due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

As a major investigation into the incident continued, it emerged that one of the show’s top executives, Clare Pizey – who had been editor-in-chief since March last year – is set to leave, casting new uncertainty over the future.

Flintoff was the latest presenter to be injured in horrific accidents during the filming of Top Gear, following former presenter Richard Hammond, who fell into a coma after losing control of a jet-powered racer in 2006, and Paddy McGuiness, who played the cheated death after a crash. Lamborghini in the Yorkshire Dales in 2020.

The future of Top Gear hangs in the balance as health and safety bosses continue their investigation into the near-fatal blow that almost killed co-presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff. Flintoff is pictured with co-presenters Chris Harris and Paddy McGuiness

Clare Pizey had become editor-in-chief of Top Gear in 2022 and was previously co-executive producer (Pizey is second from left in the photo with presenters Flintoff, right, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, left). She is about to leave, which creates new uncertainty about the future

Filming of the series was suspended while Flintoff recovered from his injuries and an investigation took place, with reports that the former professional cricketer was putting his TV career on hold.

It is uncertain whether Flintoff will resume his television career after the accident in which he was seriously injured and had to spend five weeks in hospital.

The BBC said yes continue to support Flintoff ‘with his recovery’, and add: ‘Under the circumstances we feel it is inappropriate to continue making series 34 of Top Gear at this time.

‘We understand this will be disappointing for the fans, but it is the right thing to do and we will make a judgment later this year on the best way to proceed.

‘This also has consequences for the production team, which we continue to support. Finally, a health and safety assessment of the show will take place, in line with our procedures.”