It’s been revealed that Freddie Flintoff watched the Ashes ‘incognito’ over the summer, while overcoming injuries from his horror Top Gear crash.
Last week, the former England cricket player and TV host was photographed for the first time since the shock accident while filming Top Gear in December 2022 which it was said he was ‘lucky’ to have survived.
Since the crash, Freddie, 45, has kept a low profile while he recovers.
While he was seen watching England’s opening one-day international against New Zealand in Cardiff last week, it’s now been said he was also at the Ashes, which ended in a draw last month.
The news was revealed by Piers Morgan, who said he was ‘chuffed’ to see his ‘good friend’ returning to public life – explaining Freddie watched the series in back offices as a guest of England managing director Rob Key.
‘I’d heard from various people that through the Ashes series that he was turning up as a guest of Rob Key, who runs England cricket now and is one of his great mates, but they were very incognito and watching it in back offices on TV. A very small number of people went to see him,’ he said.
‘I was encouraged, but he’s still got a lot of scarring on his face and signs of injury nine months after the crash.
‘I know he’s had a lot of mental health issues because of it, as you would expect because it was a horrendous crash that nearly killed him,’ he added when speaking on talkSport, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Piers also said Freddie had recently got in touch, with the broadcaster sharing the retired cricketer was in a ‘better place’ despite the challenges of the past year.
‘Freddie is gingerly putting himself back into the game and it’s brilliant to see him laughing and joking and interacting with the public again. I think he needs that,’ he said.
‘I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a good friend of mine and we were really worried about him because the reports of how bad the crash was were that it was real life and death, and he was lucky to survive.
‘I’m so chuffed for him and actually got a message from him yesterday. He’s not really been interacting with anybody as he’s been trying to get himself back on track. Now he’s in a better place and I’m really pleased about that.’
After breaking a rib and suffering facial injuries in the crash, which happened while shooting an episode of Top Gear at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, it was revealed that Freddie’s three-wheeled open-top car, which did not have air bags, had flipped.
He then had to wait an ‘agonising’ 45 minutes for an air ambulance – with the BBC later offering him an apology.
It was revealed this week that Freddie would be returning to screens ‘this winter’, with reports he is gearing up to resume filming Field of Dreams, which sees him go on the hunt for untapped cricketing talent.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Everyone is thrilled and relieved Freddie is gearing up to get back to work.
Top Gear is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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