Andrew Flintoff has hailed the hospital staff who cared for him following Top Gear crash, calling them "superheroes".
Flintoff suffered serious injuries after he crashed while filming at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey for an episode of the motoring show in December 2022. The former England cricketer called it "the lowest I've ever been".
Flintoff visited hospital staff that cared for him in the aftermath of his accident, with his surgeon saying it was one of the most complex he had ever seen.
"I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George’s", Flintoff said. "I came here probably the lowest I’ve ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible".
"I’ll be eternally grateful – absolute superheroes".
Speaking about this accident, Jaharad Haq, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon, said: "I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant".
"A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious", he added. "Of all the trauma cases I’ve seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex".
On this, Shamim Umarji, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon also added: "It’s very rewarding when patients come back and you get to see them not just as patients, but as people. It’s a real privilege".
"When you see their recovery, you remember how important our job is", Umarji added. "It was wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost. He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot".
Elsewhere, Kate Slemeck, who is managing director for St George's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "I’m incredibly proud of the care we provide at St George’s".
"It’s always heart-warming to hear from patients about the expert care, compassion and kindness they’ve received from our clinical and support teams, and this shows the lasting impact they have on people, long after they’ve left hospital".
Andrew Flintoff disappeared from public view following his accident, only leaving his house for medical appointments.
Back in April, Flintoff admitted that he partly wished he died following the accident. More on this here.
