A SMILING Freddie Flintoff was spotted out and about in London this week – 18 months after his horror crash.
The former cricket star, 46, beamed as he chatted away to people outside the Charlotte Street Hotel in the captial.
Flintoff appeared well and looked good in the photos snapped yesterday, with the scars on his face barely noticeable as he seemed to be healing well.
The star was seriously hurt during a car crash on the Top Gear test track in December of 2022 while filming the now-cancelled car show.
He was left with facial and rib injuries that almost cost him his life.
But a brave Flintoff has been making a return to public life – with his scars appearing to heal more and more as the months go on.
The star was photographed beaming in May, as he attended a nets session at Headingley, Leeds before the start of the T20 International.
Freddie appeared in good spirits for his day out as he could be seen clutching a ball as he walked along a field.
He kept a smile on his face and cast a beady eye over the goings-on at the cricket ground.
The same day Flintoff was seen, Paddy McGuinness sparked a return to Top Gear despite the BBC axing the series.
Flintoff had posed with a young cricket player in India prior to that.
Filming for the show Flintoff co-presents with McGuinness and automotive journalist Chris Harris was halted since the horror crash.
The smash was said to have been so bad the former England cricketer was “lucky to be alive”, according to his son.
Top Gear was axed largely as a result of the incident and the seven-figure pay out Flintoff received from the BBC in the aftermath.
It was recently revealed Flintoff was planning to make a return to TV soon as his BBC show Field Of Dreams will air a second and third series.
The star has just wrapped filming Field Of Dreams series two in India, which could air later this year or early in 2025.
It is understood that he had already signed on to shoot a third incarnation of the programme.
A TV insider told The Sun earlier this year: “This shows that Freddie isn’t just happy to return to the show, which is very close to his heart, but also that he’s quite happy to continue working long-term on programmes for the Beeb.
“It’s understood that, in addition to making the third series, he’s also considering a string of other projects they have offered him, but he’s taking his time and considering them all carefully.”
Paddy previously admitted that he hasn’t spoken to Flintoff since the horrific accident.
The TV presenter says “no one can begin to know what’s going on in his head” following the crash.
Speaking to The Sun about his relationship with Flintoff, McGuinness said: “We were all there for him when it happened, and he got back to us all immediately after, but it’s gone quiet since then.
“Who knows what he must be going through. I still see his wife and we still chat, and we have the same barber, and it’s all lovely.
“I messaged Fred recently saying, ‘Look, I can’t begin to think what you’re going through but rather than me bombarding you with loads of messages, which can be annoying, if you can’t be a***d with that, I’m always here. I hope you’re well and please God, I’ll see you soon’.
“You just can’t begin to put yourself into his shoes. No one can know what’s going on in his head.”
By Dylan Terry
Freddie Flintoff’s son Rocky hit a stunning 106 on his England U19s debut on Monday.
The prodigious talent, 16, is keen to follow in his father’s footsteps as a cricket superstar for his country.
And he kicked things off in phenomenal fashion against a Young Lions Invitational XI.
Rocky came to the crease with England languishing on 52-4 having lost their two openers in the first five overs.
Chasing 288, he then put on an 81-run partnership with Charlie Allison.
And when Rocky, who plays for Lancashire, was eventually dismissed for a superb 106 he had reeled off eight fours and three sixes from just 111 balls.
England needed just 14 runs to secure victory when Flintoff Jr left the middle.
Harry Moore and Tazeem Ali then stepped up to seal the win by two wickets.
Rocky’s mum Rachael was at the match, but dad Freddie was unable to attend as he is coaching the England team at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Archie Vaughan, the son of Flintoff Sr’s old England team-mate Michael, hit 85 off 83 balls for the Lions.
Vaughan also claimed two wickets but could not save his side from slipping to a defeat.
It was a warm-up for England’s three-match series against Sri Lanka which begins in Chelmsford on Friday.
And the team features a number of other sons whose dads had international careers.
