Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff’s horror crash sports car didn’t have airbags.
The 45-year-old TV presenter was driving a three-wheeled 130 mph Morgan Super 3 car for Top Gear with the roof down when the vehicle overturned at an airfield in December last year.
Dubbed a ‘motorized tricycle’, the £43,000 classic-look handcrafted British vehicle has no airbags, according to manufacturer Morgan’s website.
Former cricketer Andrew was left with broken ribs and serious facial injuries after the accident.
An internal BBC health and safety investigation is reportedly nearing completion and the channel’s bosses could face legal action from those involved.
Accident on the road: Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff’s horror crash sports car wasn’t equipped with airbags, it turns out
Disaster: The 45-year-old TV presenter was driving an open three-wheeled 130-mile Morgan Super 3 car for Top Gear in December last year when the vehicle overturned
A source told The Sun: “Very little has been released about the accident and bosses are keen to keep the details under wraps.
“This revelation that there is no airbag is bound to raise questions from fans.”
The BBC declined to comment when contacted by Web.
Sportsman Freddie has taken time off from all work to recover and Top Gear will reportedly not be returning.
The Morgan Motor Company was known for making three-wheeled cars before the war before bringing them back into production in the 2000s.
Freddie was flown to hospital after the crash while filming an episode of Top Gear at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
A source told The Sun at the time: “Freddie is in hospital after an accident involving Top Gear.
“He drove quite normally on the track. He wasn’t driving at high speeds – it was just an accident that could happen to anyone.
Still recovering: Former cricketer Andrew was left with broken ribs and serious facial injuries after the crash
Details: Dubbed a ‘motorized tricycle’, the £43,000 classic-look handcrafted British vehicle has no airbags, according to manufacturer Morgan’s website
“All the usual health and safety measures were in place for the filming as well.
“Freddie was taken to the hospital in an ambulance shortly after.
“His injuries are not life-threatening and he is being treated.
“The filming has been postponed for the time being and everyone is just concerned that Freddie recovers.”
A BBC spokesman confirmed that Freddie was involved in the crash and was taken to hospital for further treatment.
Freddie became the presenter of Top Gear in 2019 and the former England captain was involved in a crash shortly after joining the BBC show.
The incident happened during a drag race involving fellow presenters Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.
He then said: “I go to great lengths to make sure I do well in Top Gear Drag Races, but on this occasion I went a few lengths too far. It will look more ridiculous than dangerous when you see it on TV.’
Inquiry: An internal health and safety inquiry into the BBC is nearing completion and the channel’s bosses could face legal action from those involved
Meanwhile, a BBC spokesman said at the time: “The health and safety of our presenters and crew at Top Gear is of the utmost importance.
“As viewers of the recent series have seen, Freddie often strives to go ‘off the beaten track’.
“Tuesday’s filming at Elvington Airfield was no exception – but he sustained no injuries in his impromptu detour, as fans will see for themselves when we air the full sequence in the next series.”
Meanwhile, former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond previously said he was “too scared” to be checked for dementia following his horror crash.
The 53-year-old TV presenter, who hosted the BBC Two show alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May from 2002 to 2015, suffered a brain injury following a disastrous car accident while filming the show in 2006.
Richard – who was left with life-changing side effects, including post-traumatic amnesia – now fears his deteriorating memory could be dementia caused by the high-speed impact.
Holding Pattern: Officials began filming immediately after the crash and began investigating the incident (LR: Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness)
In the diary of a CEO podcast, he said: “I worry about my memory because it’s not brilliant. I can still read and deliver a script, but my long-term memory isn’t brilliant.
“Sometimes I have to write things down and work hard to remember them. It could be old age, it could be the beginning of something else. I’m worried about that. I do.’
The TV star admitted to suffering from depression after the accident and his wife Mindy, 57, has been warned a brain injury could result.
He added: “Mindy was told by the doctors that an injury to the frontal lobe would potentially make me more prone to obsessive compulsions, depression and paranoia.
“She said, ‘You didn’t meet him before the crash, did you?’ That’s pretty funny.’
Richard’s horrific crash happened in September 2006 while filming an episode of Top Gear at RAF Elvington airfield near York.
Richard was driving at 519 km/h in a Vampire dragster – a jet-powered car that has the potential to reach speeds of 370 km/h – when the front right tire unexpectedly failed, causing the engine to run out of control fell and fell over.
The media personality had to be cut out with hydraulic scissors before being taken to the hospital.
Concerns: Meanwhile, former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond previously said he was “too scared” to be checked for dementia following his horror crash