Freddie Flintoff’s Top Gear co-star Chris Harris says former cricketer is ‘healing’ after horror crash as he releases update
Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s Top Gear co-star Chris Harris said in an update on Thursday that the former cricketer is ‘healing’.
The former England cricket captain, 45, was involved in a horror crash on the BBC car show test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome last December, leaving him fighting for his life.
He then stayed out of the public eye for several months and suffered facial injuries when he made his first public appearance with the England cricket team in September.
Chris, who joined Top Gear in 2016, said on BBC Breakfast: ‘I think he’s healing. It was a serious incident. I’m not going to say more.’
‘As I said in the book and in the few interviews I’ve given, I’m so proud of the fact that Team Top Gear kept everything quiet and we were worthy.’
Health update: Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s Top Gear co-star Chris Harris (pictured) said in an update on Thursday that the former cricketer is ‘healing’
Injured: The former England cricket captain, 45, was involved in a horror crash at the BBC car show last December that left him fighting for his life
The presenter continued: ‘Nothing is known about what happened and nothing will happen. There is no mole in the organization. I’m really proud of that.
“As long as he’s healing, it’s great to see him pursuing his passion for cricket.
‘I’m sad I’m not doing Top Gear with him at the moment, but that’s life, it’s the best for him at the moment.’
Discussing the impact the crash had on his own life, Chris added: ‘I suddenly had nothing to do. I have another company, an online car platform that is great. I do things there.
‘But my day job went and you can imagine that your muscle memory of working life is very important, you have your routines, if that suddenly stops and you suddenly stop talking to those people, you don’t see those people, then you go to a somewhat dark place. I think I really missed it.”
He added: “It makes you think about the times things may have gone wrong. And that made me think that I have responsibilities. I have children. Have I been reckless? The answer is: I don’t think so.
‘But I did have moments of reflection: have I taken this too far? Besides, I’m old and I don’t bounce like I used to. When you’re 25, you’re bouncing along nicely. Later you don’t bounce as well anymore. It’s all about bouncing.”
Speaking in an interview with The times this week Chris said: ‘I’m just over the moon that my friend Fred is still with us.’
On screen: Chris, who joined Top Gear in 2016, appeared on BBC Breakfast: ‘I think he’s healing. It was a serious incident. I’m not going to say more than that’ (L-R Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris on show)
The presenter continued: ‘It has been a difficult year. But life goes on. I had a great experience. I don’t know what comes next and Fred is doing well and Paddy is always doing well,” he added of Paddy McGuinness, who also starred in Top Gear.
Discussing the future of the show, he explained, “I can’t really answer that. Let’s just wait and see. I’m not going to speculate.
The BBC reached a £9 million financial settlement with Flintoff following the crash. Filming of the series was halted after the incident.