Former England cricket star Andrew Flintoffhas revealed the deep mental health struggles he faced following his near-fatal car crash during filming of Top Gear in 2022.
In one of his first in-depth interviews since the accident, which left him with severe facial injuries, the 47-year-old admitted he found it extremely difficult to return to public life — especially during his early days as an assistant coach with the England national team in 2023.
"That day in Cardiff, it took me 10 goes to leave my hotel bedroom. I couldn't get out of the room," Flintoff told The Times in a candid conversation with former teammate and England captain Mike Atherton.
Flintoff described intense anxiety and fear during his initial reintroduction to the team, recalling a moment when he was nervous about simply sharing a lift with England captain Ben Stokes. However, the warm support from players like Reece Topley, Jos Buttler, and Joe Root helped ease his transition.
"Slowly but surely I started to find my feet... It’s amazing what an accident can do," he said.
Flintoff was driving a Morgan Super 3 — a three-wheeled sports car — when it overturned and crashed off the Top Gear test track during filming, changing his life both physically and mentally.
