Cricket icon Freddie Flintoff has spoken candidly about adjusting to his altered appearance following the harrowing Top Gear crash that 'changed his life forever'.
The 46-year-old sporting hero sustained serious facial injuries in a high-speed crash while filming for the BBC programme in December 2022.
His face was badly injured in the crash, with deep cuts and bruises scarring his cheeks, mouth, nose, and ears. However, ahead of his upcoming Disney+ documentary, the ex-cricketer shared an image of his healed face.
The documentary, titled Flintoff, set to premiere in the UK on April 25, will delve into the aftermath of his accident.
During his second series of Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams, which aired last August, the star spoke out for the first time about the devastating consequences of the horror incident.
Addressing his recovery and scars, Flintoff acknowledged that he doesn't know what "completely better is."
Heartbreakingly, he added: "I am what I am now. I'm different to what I was. It's something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. Better? No, different."
The England coach was left with severe injuries and anxiety so bad he couldn't leave his home for months, where he was "crying every two minutes" for weeks. He also said he was having flashbacks and nightmares about the near-death experience when he tried to get to sleep.
Freddie explained: "I thought I could just shake it off. I wanted to shake it off and say 'here I am, I'm alright'. But it's not been a case of that, it's been a lot harder than I thought. As much as I wanted to go out and do things, I have just not been able to."
In the BBC One documentary, the ex-cricketer was shown a week and a half after the accident, in phone footage he filmed of himself. The clip highlights the true extent of his facial injuries. Expressing his disbelief, he said: "I genuinely should not be here with what happened. It's going to be a long road back and I've only just started. I'm going to need help. I really am. I'm not the best at asking for it."
Speaking in the new Disney doc, Flintoff highlights how much the sport means to him, saying it has "shaped him". He adds: "Looking back on the highs and the lows, including the challenges I've faced since my accident, has been a real reminder of why my career in the sport has meant so much."
Freddie was injured at Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December 2022. He reached a settlement with the BBC last year, reportedly worth £9m. The payout was not funded by the TV licence fee, as BBC Studios is a commercial arm of the broadcaster.
Flintoff will premiere exclusively on Disney+ in the UK and Ireland on April 25.
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