The Stig reveals terrifying moment he thought Freddie Flintoff had died after Top Gear crash
Top Gear’s The Stig has spoken about the horrific car crash he was involved in with Freddie Flintoff that left him feeling like they were going to die.
Paul Rees was The Stig from 2019 to 2022 and was sitting beside Flintoff in the Morgan Super 3 on the day it flipped at the Top Gear test track in Surrey.
Ex-England cricketer Flintoff was left with serious facial and rib injuries.
Passenger Rees, 41, who has finally unmasked himself as the iconic stunt driver, claims he was left with a broken back and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the cash.
Advert
In a new interview with The Sun, Rees, who is a former Formula 2 and Porsche Supercup driver, said: “My vision went red. I now know that was blood from Fred spraying me in the face.
“I remember thinking that if we can get out of this and be in wheelchairs, we’re lucky.
“It was a terrifying thought. Everything goes in slow motion.
“I genuinely felt like we were going to potentially die, because we had no protection."
Rees told the publication that their lives ‘changed in an instant’ after the car, which did not have a roof, flipped upside down and skidded along the tarmac before coming to a stop around 50 metres away.
Recalling the horrific moment, he said: “Fred was hunched over on top of me.
“I pulled him back next to me, took one look at him and I thought he was dead.”
Rees said he believed there was ‘no way’ someone could have survived the injuries.
Last week, it was reported that Rees is suing the BBC Studios and was seeking in excess of £100,000 for personal injury.
Court documents state that BBC Studios denies any negligence on its part 'as alleged or at all' and that Rees never complained of any injuries at the time.
In fact, according to a BBC report, the company claims it was on Rees' instructions to Flintoff - who allegedly shared concern after the front wheel of the vehicle lifted - '... the presenter continued to apply power, the Morgan turned over'.
In a statement to LADbible, BBC Studios said: "We dispute this claim and are defending it. As it's now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
BBC Studio also said it provided Paul Rees with comprehensive medical, legal and welfare support following the accident.
Flintoff has previously revealed that he was also left with long-lasting emotional scars following the crash.
Speaking to Piers Morgan in October last year, he said: "You know, I suffer from PTSD. I have flashbacks and nightmares, but I've probably got more of an acceptance of them now."
Speaking on a BBC Plus documentary about the crash, Flintoff said he didn’t leave the house for six months other than to attend scheduled medical appointments.
He also said that in the immediate aftermath, he thought he might have been dead.
"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?'" he added.
In 2024, it was reported that Flintoff had reached a settlement with the BBC.
In a statement at the time, BBC Studios said: “The accident investigation report was concluded in March of this year and is not being published, which we have always made clear. We have privately and publicly sincerely apologised to Freddie and also reached an agreement with him that we believe supports his continued rehabilitation, return to work and future plans.”
The broadcaster also made the move to ‘rest’ the show indefinitely after the crash.
In an interview with LADbible, Top Gear’s creator Andy Wilman was asked if he thought the show might ever make a return to our screens.
“I don’t think it will,” he said.
“Because unless somebody has a will, they could. But somebody's got to be like we were, which is 'I want to take this thing by the scruff of the neck.’
“I don't think there's anybody sitting in programme planning going, ‘How do we get Top Gear back on air?’ Nobody's doing that.”
Topics: Freddie Flintoff, Top Gear
Claire Reid