Freddie Flintoff is preparing to walk away from his high profile hosting job on Top Gear - according to close friends.
The 45-year-old sporting legend has hosted the hit BBC show since 2019 and covered four seasons so far.
Last month he was involved in a horror car crash and was said to be “lucky to be alive” and left him hospitalised and suffering with broken bones after the accident occurred on the Top Gear test track.
And while Freddie has taken time off working on the show to recover from his injuries, some friends think he may quit the show entirely.
A source close to the star told The Times: “he was making a good recovery physically following the crash, but the psychological impact was less clear.”
It is reported the star was left “psychologically traumatised” when a stunt went wrong at the Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey, in sub-zero temperatures on December 13.
Freddie’s 16-year-old son Corey previously told the Daily Mail: "He's OK. I'm not too sure what happened but he is lucky to be alive.
"It was a pretty nasty crash. It is shocking. We are all shocked but just hope he's going to be OK."
Piers Morgan previously revealed that Freddie had been left shaken by the accident.
He told TalkSport last month: "I'm told it was a pretty serious crash and that Freddie's going to be OK, but it might be a little bit more serious than first appreciated.
"I'm told he's going to be OK which is great news, but I'm also told it was a pretty nasty bang and that he's had surgery and is recovering now and we'll have to wait and see.
"I've been in contact with them privately, but I just want to wish him and his family, Rachel his wife, all the very best and I think we're all just keeping our fingers crossed that the big man comes through alright."
While Top Gear co-presenter and close friend Paddy McGuiness wrote on Instagram last month: “Had so many well wishes and positivity for the big lad these last few years.
“@aflintfoff11 is loved and will be up and at um before you know it! The three of us are back this Sunday with more new @topgear including a trip to Italy, best family cars and our very own postal service! We obviously filmed this ep earlier in the year.”
Following the accident in December, a BBC spokesperson said in a statement: "Freddie was injured in an accident at the Top Gear test track this morning – with crew medics attending the scene immediately.
"He has been taken to hospital for further treatment and we will confirm more details in due course."
While an investigation was also launched into the accident by the Health and Safety Executive, the government agency.
A spokesman for the agency said on Friday: “We've completed our initial inquires into this incident and will not be investigating further.”
The Health and Safety Executive is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions.
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