Andrew Flintoff is sent messages of support from former team-mate Kevin Pietersen and Piers Morgan after the ex-England cricketer was seen for the first time since his near-fatal Top Gear crash nine months ago
- Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is back working in cricket nine months after his crash
- Kevin Pietersen and Piers Morgan were amongst those to welcome Flintoff back
Kevin Pietersen and Piers Morgan were amongst those to welcome Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff back following his return to cricket.
As exclusively revealed by Mail Sport, on Friday Flintoff was seen for the first time since he was involved in a horror crash at 130mph on BBC’s Top Gear nine months ago which almost killed him.
The incident occurred at Top Gear’s test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
Flintoff’s facial injuries from the crash were visible as he was seen working with the England team ahead of their defeat to New Zealand.
Pietersen, who was part of England’s Ashes-winning side in 2005 along with Flintoff, was delighted to see his former team-mate back involved in cricket.
Kevin Pietersen and Piers Morgan were delighted with Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s return
Flintoff made his return to cricket following his near-fatal car crash last December
Flintoff’s facial injuries from the crash were visible as he was seen working with the England team
The 45-year-old was seen working with the England team ahead of the ODI versus New Zealand
Flintoff was seen with Mark Wood and Sam Curran during the innings break on Friday
Pietersen posted a picture of Flintoff and wrote: ‘Freddie BACK!!!!’ along with six heart emojis.
Meanwhile, Morgan also stated that it was ‘brilliant’ to see Flintoff back.
Morgan wrote: ‘Brilliant to see Freddie @flintoff11 back with the England team today, after that horrendous Top Gear car smash.’
Mail Sport’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd wrote: ‘Really , really pleased ! Great to have him back in the game’.
Flintoff crashed at 130mph in a three-wheeled open-top car which did not have air bags.
He had to wait 45 minutes for an air ambulance to arrive.
Flintoff quit Top Gear as a result of the incident and several members of staff who witnessed it signed off sick indefinitely as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Filming of the 34th series of Top Gear was suspended, with a review into the incident taking place.
Flintoff played in 79 Tests and 141 one-day internationals before retiring after England won the 2009 Ashes.
Flintoff (pictured right, sitting next to Joe Root, left) was inside the senior dressing room for the first ODI international against New Zealand
The TV host, pictured here with co-presenters Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness, had been filming the latest series of the show, which was due to be aired this autumn
The serious accident saw Flintoff quit Top Gear and several members of staff who witnessed it sign off sick indefinitely as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder
Flintoff poses wife Rachael and children Holly, Corey and Rocky in Australia in 2014
Pietersen expressed his delight at seeing his old team-mate Flintoff return to action
Ahead of his return to work, Flintoff received encouragement from England managing director Rob Key and spent time working with the England Under-19 team.
The injuries that Flintoff suffered left him in hospital for five weeks. It is currently uncertain whether he will resume his television career.
In the aftermath of the crash Flintoff’s wife Rachael repeatedly begged him to stay off work.
This may well have influenced his decision to return to cricket rather than taking part in dangerous stunts.
Flintoff has four children with Rachael – Holly, Corey, Rocky and Preston.
The Mail on Sunday reported the high-speed accident and horrific injuries of the former England cricket star had a ‘significant effect’ on witnesses, preventing them from returning to work.
Sources say that there were many staff present at last December’s smash at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Park aerodrome in Surrey.
One said: ‘The scenes were awful, something you would truly want to unsee. The idea of returning to do that kind of work again for some people is just too much.
‘It has been a terribly hard time for everyone involved in the crash. Some are still struggling with it so have been signed off work.’
In September 2019 Flintoff was left uninjured after crashing a trike at 124mph during a Top Gear competition.
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