Andrew Flintoff’s face ‘was covered up just six weeks ago’, reveals ex-England team-mate Steve Harmison, as he gives new insight into his condition after his near-fatal Top Gear crash

• New details have emerged about Freddie Flintoff after his horror car crash 
• Cricketer’s ex-England team-mate said he was covering his face six weeks ago 

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was still covering up his face just six weeks ago in the wake of his horror car crash while filming Top Gear last year, according to former England team-mate Steve Harmison.

The former cricket star, 45, was involved in an accident during production of the BBC series at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December, with the father-of-four taken to hospital for further treatment.

Flintoff – who also narrowly cheated death following a 125mph crash in 2019 – was only seen in public for the first time since his crash this week after making a return to working with the England cricket team and was pictured with cuts on his face. 

He appeared in good spirits as he continues to recover from the facial injuries and several broken ribs. Now his former England pal Harmison has given new insight into his condition after appearing on talkSport.

Harmison, who played alongside Flintoff for England between 2002 and 2009, said he was delighted to see him in the public eye again but revealed only a short while ago he was still covering up his facial injuries.

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was still covering his face six weeks ago after his horror car crash last year, claims his former England cricket team-mate 

Steve Harmison (L) – who played with Flintoff (R) for seven years – revealed new details on his recovery from the accident 

He also claimed Flintoff was training a guide dog as he plotted a route back to working life. 

‘It was great to see him back,’ he said.

‘It’s been tough, you’ve seen the pictures of him with a smile on his face but I saw him about six weeks ago when my son Charlie and his son, Rocky played against each other and it was great to see him.

‘Obviously I roomed with Andrew for the best part of 15 years and we’d gone through all our careers together and so to see our two sons playing each other, Northumberland against Lancashire, it was fantastic.

‘I got to see him then but at that time he covered his face up when he walked around – believe it or not, he was training a guide dog which I’m sure is going better now than it was because he tripped over around three times on his way around the field!

Flintoff (pictured right, sitting next to Ben Stokes, centre) returned to working with the England cricket team this week and was pictured at the ODI international against New Zealand

The serious accident saw Flintoff quit Top Gear and several members of staff who witnessed it signed off sick indefinitely as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder

Flintoff’s family (pictured with his wife Rachael and three of their four children) reportedly begged him to stay away from the set while he was recovering from his injuries 

‘He was on great form, but to see him around the England group, the main team, was fantastic. This England team are a good bunch and not only are they great cricketers, but they’re great ambassadors.

‘Freddie was always brilliant in the dressing room and so to have Andrew in the dressing room with them and feeling comfortable and letting him get his feet under the table because they’ll be in for a show.’

Flintoff is one of the great all-rounders of the English game and was an iconic symbol of the famous side that won the Ashes in 2005. 

READ MORE: FLINTOFF’S TOP GEAR CRASH CAR THAT LEFT HIM WITH FACE WOUNDS WAS ‘NOT FITTED WITH AIRBAGS’ 

In all he played in 79 Tests and 141 one-day internationals before retiring after England won the 2009 Ashes.

He made something of a comeback in T20 cricket in 2015 but was seemingly disillusioned with the game when he launched what had become a highly successful television career that culminated with the hugely successful Top Gear programme.

The father-of-four was ‘lucky to be alive’ when his open-topped three-wheel Morgan Super 3 flipped over in freezing conditions, according to his son. 

Filming on the series was suspended while Flintoff recovered from his injuries and investigations took place, with reports the former professional cricketer was putting his TV career on hold.

It is uncertain whether Flintoff will resume his television career after the accident which left him badly injured and caused him to spend five weeks in hospital. 

The BBC said it would continue to support Flintoff ‘with his recovery’, adding: ‘Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear at this time.

‘We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgment about how best to continue later this year.

‘This has also impacted the production team, who we continue to support.

‘Finally there will be a health and safety review of the show, in line with our procedures.’

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