Rachael Flintoff breaks silence on husband’s near-fatal Top Gear crash

Freddie Flintoff’s life changed in an instant during a high-speed crash while filming Top Gear in December 2022, an incident that has since become the focus of a new Disney+ documentary, “Flintoff.” The former England cricket star was driving a Morgan Super 3 at Dunsfold Aerodrome when the three-wheel vehicle flipped in icy conditions, leaving him with serious facial injuries and broken ribs, and requiring an emergency airlift to hospital. His wife Rachael, speaking publicly for the first time since the crash, recalls in the documentary trailer, “All of a sudden your life can change… like that,” highlighting the shock and uncertainty that followed the accident.
Rachael, who has been married to Flintoff since 2005 and shares four children with him, rushed from their home in Greater Manchester to Surrey upon hearing the news, only to be warned by a surgeon to “expect the worst.” The crash not only left Flintoff with visible scars but also forced him out of the public eye for seven months as he faced a difficult recovery, both physically and mentally. “I genuinely should not be here after what happened,” Flintoff admitted in footage filmed from his hospital bed, his injuries still raw, adding, “This is going to be a long road back and I have only just started and I am struggling already. I need help. I really am not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes.”
Flintoff’s recovery has been marked by persistent anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks, a reality he candidly shares: “I thought I could just shake it off, I want to shake it off and say ‘here I am, I am alright’ but it has not been the case, it has been a lot harder than I thought.” He openly discusses how the crash has changed him, stating, “I am struggling with my anxiety, I have nightmares, I have flashbacks, it has been so hard to cope. I don’t know what completely better is. I am what I am now, I am different to what I was. That is something I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. Better? No. Different.”
The BBC suspended Top Gear for the foreseeable future following the crash, and Flintoff received a reported financial settlement from the broadcaster. Despite the challenges, he has gradually returned to public life, most notably as part of the England cricket coaching staff and in his first full-time coaching role with the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. The documentary not only offers an intimate look at the aftermath of a life-altering accident but also sheds light on the psychological impact of trauma, a subject increasingly recognized in sports medicine and mental health research. Studies have shown that survivors of traumatic accidents often face prolonged psychological recovery, with symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression persisting long after physical wounds have healed. Flintoff’s story, as told in his own words and those of his family, underscores the unpredictable nature of trauma and the resilience required to navigate life after such an event.