FREDDIE Flintoff was seen smiling while celebrating his birthday as he continues to recover from his Top Gear crash.
The cricketer and TV star turned 46 on Wednesday, with wife Rachael and son Corey posted pictures online to mark his big day.
In one, Flintoff sat smiling on a fairground round at a winter wonderland wearing sunglasses and a flat cap.
The former Ashes hero and TV presenter has rarely been pictured since he suffered “life altering” injuries in a horror smash last December while filming a Top Gear segment.
The open-top car he was driving flipped over during a 130mph stunt at Dunsfold Park aerodrome in Surrey, leaving him with a series of serious injuries.
He disappeared from the limelight during his long road to recovery.
But in September he was pictured for the first time in public as he led the England cricket team in a series of field drills ahead of a game against New Zealand.
The sportsman has since negotiated a £9m settlement with Top Gear makers BBC Studios in relation to his smash, with both sides happy and planning to work together again.
A BBC Studios spokesman said: “BBC Studios has reached an agreement with Freddie that we believe supports his continued rehabilitation, return to work and future plans.
“We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.”
Yesterday The Sun told how Flintoff will be an assistant coach for England’s five Twenty20 cricket games in the Caribbean.
He has also been appointed head coach of Northern Superchargers in next summer’s Hundred competition.
Flintoff revealed how cricket helped his recovery.
He added: “My time with the England men’s team has been a reminder of just how special cricket is to me.”
