Freddie Flintoff has opened up on his horrific near-death Top Gear crash in a new interview with Piers Morgan.
The former England cricketer almost died after a horrific crash whilst driving a Morgan Super 3 supercar on the Top Gear test track in Surrey.
Speaking in one of his first major interviews since the crash outside of his BBC documentary Field of Dreams, Flintoff told Piers Morgan Uncensored about the harrowing details behind the crash that left him with severe injuries and facial scarring.
Asked about the effect of the crash, Flintoff said: "You know, I suffer from PTSD. I have flashbacks and nightmares, but I've probably got more of an acceptance of them now."
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The cricketer however revealed that he was conscious throughout the crash so he remembers 'everything', saying that his cricket instincts made a major part in his survival of the crash.
He said: "So I remember everything about it. And it was in a car where I was exposed from pretty much ear up and no helmet on. And as it went over, it was like I got a decision I need to make here."
Flintoff then related the crash to cricket, pointing out that with a 90mph fast bowler you 'probably have 0.4 seconds to make a decision.' He said that these instincts helped in the crash, adding; "You know, I thought if I get hit sideways, I'll break my neck.
"So I just turned and looked at the floor and braced myself and shut me eyes and took my left arm out because they
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say keep your arms in the car because you you might lose one.
"But I thought I'm right-handed. So I just gripped tight with me right hand and tried to brace a little bit with my left one thinking you might lose your arm possibly."
Flintoff also shockingly revealed that his first thought after the crash was actually that he thought he had died.
He said: "Initially I did think I was dead, I was just in darkness and I thought 'Is this it? Is this how it is when you die?'"
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He then revealed that his hat had fallen over his eyes and he was pleased to be alive, but that this was immediately followed by fear and pain.
Speaking about the crash co-host Chris Harris had previously said he had given the BBC a morbid warning just three months before the crash, saying that someone was going to die on the show.
He said on the Joe Rogan Experience: "Three months before the accident, l'd gone to the BBC and said 'unless you change something, someone's going to die on this show.
"I was there on the day, I was the only presenter with Fred that day. I remember the radio message that I heard.
"I heard someone say this has been a real accident here. The car's upside down.
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"So I ran to the window, looked out and he wasn't moving. So I thought he was dead. I assumed he was, then he moved."
Topics: Freddie Flintoff, Top Gear, Piers Morgan, Cricket, TV and Film, TV
Michael Slavin