Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has opened up about the profound impact of his life-changing accident, confessing it once left him battling to even step out of his room. The ex-cricketer endured the harrowing crash while shooting for an episode of Top Gear in 2022, which caused severe facial injuries and had a significant effect on his mental health.
This severe incident prompted the BBC to put Top Gear on hold indefinitely. Reports indicate that Flintoff, 47, received a hefty £9million in compensation due to the accident. In a frank discussion with former England captain and The Times‘ cricket correspondent Mike Atherton, which marks his first interview post-accident, Flintoff spoke about his initial reluctance to re-enter the public eye as he grappled with intense anxiety. He vividly remembers the difficulty he faced just trying to leave his hotel bedroom during a stay in Cardiff, on what was to be his first day coaching with the England team.
“That day in Cardiff, it took me 10 goes to leave my [hotel] bedroom. I couldn’t get out of the room,” he heartbreakingly revealed, reports Wales Online. “I was so anxious and worried. I eventually went down to breakfast; sat down and chatted with Reece Topley and then Jos [Buttler].”
Meeting Test captain Ben Stokes later, who has openly shared his own mental health struggles and took a hiatus from cricket in 2021, Flintoff experienced feelings of inadequacy. “I had to go back to my room to get my baseball mitt and ‘flicker’ and I was waiting for the lift again and heard footsteps. I knew it would be Stokesy,” he shared.
“I didn’t really know him then. I’ve built a great relationship with him since, but I was anxious about that, standing in the lift with him. We were both stood there. He’s Stokesy and I am supposed to be like that, I suppose, but I didn’t feel like that.”
The supportive environment within the dressing room was pivotal in helping Flintoff regain his self-assurance, as he pointed out the key role played by Joe Root. “In the dressing room, Joe Root came over, one of the best men you’ll ever meet, and everyone made me feel so welcome,” Flintoff continued, reflecting on the positive reinforcement he received.
“Slowly but surely I started to find my feet. And sitting on the balcony and being pictured. Even the press were nice about me. It’s amazing what an accident can do.”
Flintoff also shared how cricket has served as a therapeutic refuge. “It’s always going to be there, but in a strange way, I’ve got an acceptance of it now. I’m not fighting it,” he stated. “I still get flashbacks at night and anxiety and other stuff but I know it’s happening and I’m accepting of it. When I’m around cricket I don’t get it; I’ve found comfort in the dressing room again.
“It has made me appreciate the game and the people a hell of a lot and made me realise that this is the place where I want to be. This is the place I feel most comfortable and this is what I get the most pleasure from, get most excited about and I care about it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still do the odd Bullseye now and again because I’ve got bills to pay, but it’s cricket first and everything else on my terms to fit around that.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk