Andrew Flintoff says he’s “getting there slowly” and is “probably in a better 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 Prime 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 speedy 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 by way of’
The 47-year-old, who’s now teaching the England Lions, says within the present: “I thought I was dead because I was conscious but I couldn’t see anything. I was thinking, ‘is that it?’
“After the accident, I did not suppose I had it in me to get by way of. 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 might have been a lot simpler’.
“Now I attempt to take the angle that the solar will come up tomorrow and my children will nonetheless give me a hug. I am most likely in a greater place now.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to be better… just different now. I’m getting there slowly.”
Flintoff’s spouse Rachael: I believe cricket saved him
Flintoff has additionally coached Hundred group Northern Superchargers since his accident, with spouse Rachael saying: “I do think cricket saved him. It gave him a reason for being again.”
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 remember my head got hit, I got dragged out. I went over the back of the car and it pulled my face down on the runway, about 50 metres, underneath the car.
“My greatest worry was, I did not suppose I had a face. I believed my face had come off. I used to be frightened to dying.
“Even the memories of it are real, to the point where now I’m talking about it and I’m getting a bit jittery and I can feel the pain on the side of my face.
“I can really feel like a phantom ache. It is like a little bit of a curse, actually.”
The BBC “rested” Prime Gear for the foreseeable future in 2023 after reaching a monetary settlement with Flintoff, reportedly price round £9m.
In case you are affected by this story, please go to sky.com/viewersupport
