Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is said to be ‘recovering’ from his crash while filming an episode of the upcoming series of Top Gear on Tuesday, his friend and fellow broadcaster Piers Morgan has said.
The 45-year-old former England cricketer is understood to have been shooting an episode for the hit BBC series at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey before the incident.
The former cricketing champ was filming alongside co-star Chris Harris at the Top Gear test track when he sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital.
Piers Morgan, a friend of Flintoff’s, said he had been in touch with the family and shared a health update on the motoring programme presenter.
“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,” he told talkSPORT.
“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.”
A BBC spokesperson said on Tuesday: “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.“
Top Gear has stressed ‘all health and safety procedures’ were followed ahead of host Freddie’s injury during filming and confirmed the incident is being ‘fully investigated’.
A spokesman for the show said: “Our primary concern is and has been for the welfare of Freddie – as well as the Top Gear team.
“All health and safety procedures were followed on site and the incident is now being fully investigated, in line with standard policy and practice.”’
Chris, Freddie and co-host Paddy McGuiness are currently filming the latest series of the BBC One show ahead of its return to screens.
Top Gear's most serious accident occurred in 2006 when presenter Richard Hammond was left with serious head injuries after crashing a Vampire dragster at nearly 320mph while filming at the former RAF Elvington airbase near York.
The 45-year-old TV presenter and former professional cricketer has presented the BBC One show since 2019.
Flintoff has recently been seen in ITV's Two Men in A Tent in which he and comedian Jason Manford go trekking and camping in Snowdonia.
