Freddie Flintoff has been "saved by cricket" following his near-fatal Top Gear crash that left him scarred for life, according to his wife Rachel.
The former England all-rounder, 47, has emerged from a period of isolation and mental struggles to become the head coach of England Lions.
Flintoff suffered serious injuries when the open-top, three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 he was driving flipped over during filming at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December 2022.
WARNING: This article contains graphic imagery of Flintoff's injuries.
The accident left him with a fractured jaw, broken and missing teeth, and facial wounds that required urgent medical care.
In a new Disney+ documentary titled "Flintoff", Rachel reveals how returning to cricket gave her husband "a reason for being again" after he spent more than six months barely leaving his house.
Flintoff vividly recalls the terrifying moments of the crash in the documentary and recalls: “I remember everything about it.
New footage of the stars' crash will be shown during the documentary
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“We're probably doing about 40 or 45, they were showing me how to get the car going sideways, and the wheel came up at the front."
The former cricketer explains how his sporting instincts potentially saved his life, with his wife agreeing with his comment.
In the documentary, she explained she was warned to "expect the worst" when rushing to his hospital bedside.
Speaking on his return to cricket, she admits: “It's like back where he belongs. When Andrew needed it most, cricket was there for him.
The star's initial injuries will also be shown
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“I mean, it sounds a bit weird saying a bit over the top to say, but I do think cricket saved him. It gave him a reason for being again."
The mother of four also had to prepare their children for seeing their father's changed appearance after the accident.
She recalls telling them: "You've just got to be as strong as you've ever been. Your dad does look different at the moment.
“It's gonna get better, but I don't want you to look shocked and horrified, because that's gonna knock him.”
In the immediate aftermath, Flintoff feared the worst: "I thought I was dead because I was conscious. I couldn't see anything. My biggest fear was that I didn't think I had a face."
The mental toll of the accident has been severe for Flintoff, who admits he still relives the crash daily.
Freddie underwent many surgeries after the crash
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"I still live it every day, see the car every night when I go to bed, and it's so vivid. Not slept the same since.
"After the accident, I didn't think I had it in me to get through. This sounds awful. Part of me thinks I should have been killed," he reveals.
He clarifies: "I didn't want to kill myself, I won't mistake the two things, but I just, I was not wishing, I was thinking this would have been so much easier."
