Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has opined for the first time about the life-threatening incident he faced. He feels he is lucky to be alive after all that happened as well. The veteran cricketer sustained severe facial injuries due to an accident while filming Top Gear in December 2022, leaving his face disfigured too. He went into the avenue of TV presenting in 2019 and experienced a crash three years later.

Speaking as part of the second series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, the retired cricketer said as quoted by BBC Sport, “I genuinely should not be here with what happened. It’s going to be a long road back and I’ve only just started. I’m going to need help. I really am. I’m not the best at asking for it. I’m looking forward to seeing the lads. I really am. This India trip is going to be for me as much as them now. I’m determined. I really want to go.”

However, the first series of The Field of Dreams in 2022 came in as the England player returned to his hometown of Preston. He brings together a group of teenagers who had never played cricket before as well. He said that he hasn’t been able to get past the incident like he thought he would as well.

“I thought I could just shake it off. I wanted to shake it off and say ‘everything’s all right’, but it’s not been the case. It’s been a lot harder than I thought. As much as I wanted to go out and do things, I’ve just not been able to. I struggle with anxiety. I have nightmares, I have flashbacks. It’s been so hard to cope with,” he concluded.