Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, host of Top Gear, was evacuated to the hospital following a terrifying automobile incident during shooting.
The 45-year-old former England cricket star was driving and giving the vehicle a once-over while filming an episode for the BBC series at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, when it was 0 degrees outside.
The father of four was harmed in the collision, and the BBC confirmed that he was brought to a hospital for additional care. According to sources, Flintoff’s wounds are ‘not life-threatening.
After a shocking 125 mph crash, Flintoff’s ex-cricketer almost escaped death three years prior to his smash.
According to a spokeswoman, “Freddie was hurt in an accident at the Top Gear test track, with crew medics arriving at the site right away.” He has been brought to the hospital for more care, and we will provide more information as soon as it is available.
All the customary health and safety precautions were in place for filming, sources informed The Sun. Soon after, Freddie was flown by air ambulance to the hospital.
“Filming has been put on hold for the time being, and everyone just wants Freddie to get better.”
When the event occurred, Flintoff was driving and shooting while on-site medical personnel rushed to help him at the venue close to Cranleigh. Along with Flintoff and Paddy McGuiness, Chris Harris, his co-star and the show’s presenter, was present at the Top Gear test track.
In a three-wheeled cycle car, Flintoff was seen hurtling head-first down a runway in 2019 while frightenedly crying, “I can’t stop,” as he was only inches off the ground. When he realized he was out of road and going to miss the finish line while racing his co-hosts, he saw him spin out in a cloud of dust.
Flintoff emerged unhurt from the “near-death” accident and insisted that he was “totally OK.”
I go to great efforts to ensure I do well in Top Gear drag races, but on this occasion, I went a few lengths too far,’ he stated at the time. When you watch it on TV, it will seem more ludicrous than hazardous.
Having twice been named England’s cricket captain (in 2006 and 2007), Flintoff announced his retirement from international competition in 2010. Four years later, he temporarily returned to the field for Lancashire.
Following a great sporting career, he established himself into a household name on television by participating in reality and panel programs and serving as the spokesperson for the Morrisons supermarket chain.
Prior to being voted king of the jungle in the first season of the Australian edition of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015, he served as team captain on James Corden’s Sky show A League Of Their Own in 2010.
He made his musical theater debut in Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends The Musical after participating in the BBC miniseries Love, Lies, and Records in 2017. That same year, he also hosted All Star Musicals for ITV.
He joined Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris as a new host of Top Gear in October 2018, just before the show’s 27th season.
After losing control of a red Lamborghini in the Yorkshire Dales in 2020, McGuinness also avoided dying.
It follows the terrible crash that put Richard Hammond in a coma during filming in September 2006.
The former host of Top Gear was injured in a 288 mph incident involving a jet-powered Vampire dragster and spent five weeks in the hospital getting better.
»Top Gear host Freddie Flintoff airlifted after vehicle crash«