Andrew Flintoff says he’s “getting there slowly” and is “in all probability in a greater place” after reliving the life-altering automotive crash that he thought had killed him.
The previous England cricket captain suffered a severe accident whereas filming for High Gear in 2022 that left him with enduring main facial accidents.
He speaks concerning the incident in Disney+ documentary ‘Flintoff’, which is launched on Friday, going into element concerning the quick aftermath and the way he struggled to take care of the fallout.
‘After the accident, I did not suppose I had it in me to get via’
The 47-year-old, who’s now teaching the England Lions, says within the present: “I assumed I used to be useless as a result of I used to be acutely aware however I could not see something. I used to be pondering, ‘is that it?’
“After the accident, I did not suppose I had it in me to get via. This sounds terrible… a part of me needs I would been killed. A part of me thinks, I want I would died.
“I did not wish to kill myself… I would not mistake the 2 issues. I used to be not wishing, I used to be simply pondering, ‘this may have been a lot simpler’.
“Now I attempt to take the angle that the solar will come up tomorrow and my youngsters will nonetheless give me a hug. I am in all probability in a greater place now.
“I do not suppose I am ever going to be higher… simply completely different now. I am getting there slowly.”
Flintoff: ‘Now I attempt to take the angle that the solar will come up tomorrow and my youngsters will nonetheless give me a hug. I am in all probability in a greater place now’
Flintoff’s spouse Rachael: I believe cricket saved him
Flintoff has additionally coached Hundred crew Northern Superchargers since his accident, with spouse Rachael saying: “I do suppose cricket saved him. It gave him a purpose for being once more.”
The documentary options an look by surgeon Jahrad Haq, who describes Flintoff’s accidents as one of many 5 worst he has come throughout in 20 years.
Flintoff says: “I keep in mind my head acquired hit, I acquired dragged out. I went over the again of the automotive and it pulled my face down on the runway, about 50 metres, beneath the automotive.
“My largest concern was, I did not suppose I had a face. I assumed my face had come off. I used to be frightened to dying.
“Even the reminiscences of it are actual, to the purpose the place now I am speaking about it and I am getting a bit jittery and I can really feel the ache on the aspect of my face.
“I can really feel like a phantom ache. It is like a little bit of a curse, actually.”
The BBC “rested” High Gear for the foreseeable future in 2023 after reaching a monetary settlement with Flintoff, reportedly value round £9m.
If you’re affected by this story, please go to sky.com/viewersupport
