Featured Image Credit: BBC/Visionhaus/Getty Images
Topics: Top Gear, Freddie Flintoff, BBC, TV and Film
Joe Harker
Topics: Top Gear, Freddie Flintoff, BBC, TV and Film
Freddie Flintoff was doing 22mph when the horrific crash which caused him serious injuries occurred, new reports claim.
The Mail on Sunday reports that the Top Gear presenter was not wearing a helmet when he flipped a vehicle on a corner of the show's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome.
They report that Flintoff was going at 22mph behind the wheel of a Morgan Super 3 when the vehicle flipped on the Top Gear test track's first corner.
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Flintoff, who was seen in public for the first time since the terrible crash last month, suffered serious injuries to his face and several broken ribs, with the future of the show in doubt ever since.
Production of the show was brought to a halt as the BBC said it would be 'inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear at this time'.
Work has not resumed on finishing the latest series of Top Gear and ever since then fans of the show have been wondering if this is the end of the road.
There had been recent reports that the BBC had taken the decision to axe Top Gear and tell staff working on the show to seek employment elsewhere.
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However, the BBC denied that it'd made a decision on the future of Top Gear, saying: "A decision on the timing of future Top Gear shows will be made in due course with BBC Content."
Flintoff had spoken about the 'daredevil' nature of the show while appearing on The Graham Norton Show in 2020, saying he had to sign waivers before stunts after Norton asked whether Top Gear presenters had to say 'if I die don't worry about it'.
The former England cricketer had been talking about a stunt in which he bungee jumped a car, saying: "Everyone thinks I am a daredevil, but that is not the case. After bungee jumping in a car, they keep upping the ante."
Top Gear has a history of the presenters scoring injuries while performing stunts for the show.
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Jeremy Clarkson was injured when he drove a lorry through a brick wall for an episode, while Richard Hammond had a near-death experience behind the wheel of a jet car.
Former Top Gear presenter Angela Rippon had previously said that Flintoff decided 'his life is more important than a television programme'.
She explained that she'd been making a segment of the show with Flintoff for series 34 of Top Gear.
Another ex-Top Gear presenter, Steve Berry, hit out at the programme for asking non-professional drivers to do dangerous motoring stunts.
After the crash the BBC said it would be conducting a health and safety review of the show, when contacted by LADbible about the claims made by the Mail on Sunday they declined to comment.
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In a previous statement made on the matter they said: "BBC Studios has concluded its investigation into the accident at the Top Gear Test Track in Surrey last December, which regrettably injured presenter Freddie Flintoff.
"We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery. 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 judgement 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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LADbible has contacted Flintoff's reps for comment.