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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Scarlett O'Toole

Freddie Flintoff's Top Gear car 'was not fitted with air bags' before horror crash

Freddie Flintoff was involved in a terrifying car crash while filming Top Gear, with it now being reported that his vehicle "was not fitted with air bags".

The 45-year-old was said to be "lucky to be alive" after the accident, which happened back in December, left him hospitalised and suffering from broken bones.

Freddie is now said to have been driving an open-topped three-wheel Morgan Super 3 sports car when the terrifying incident happened.

An internal health and safety investigation is underway at the BBC following the crash, with the investigation reportedly being close to completion.

Freddie and another crew member were injured in the crash after the 130mph vehicle flipped at an aerodrome three months ago.

Freddie was involved in the horror crash back in December (BBC Studios/ Lee Brimble)

According to the Morgan Motor Company website, the £43,000 British hand-made car does not include air bags, but it does still meet UK safety standards.

The vehicle is registered as a "motorised tricycle".

A source close to the incident said: "Very little has been revealed about the accident and bosses are keen to keep a lid on details."

They said people will undoubtedly be concerned about the new information.

"This revelation about not having an air bag is bound to spark questions from fans," the insider told The Sun.

He was filming a segment for Top Gear when the accident happened (BBC)

Freddie's crash is said to have cause chaos for Top Gear and two other BBC shows he is supposed to be fronting.

Amid reports that Top Gear has been hit by delays while Freddie recovers from his horrific car crash, it has now been revealed that two other BBC shows are 'at risk' as Freddie was meant to play a key part.

He is said to be fronting a series for BBC Two which has been dubbed as The Repair Shop meeting Top Gear, where people's cars go under serious renovations - whilst Freddie hears from the owner all about how they came to have it and its history.

Freddie has also signed up for a new series of his cricketing documentary, Field of Dreams, but can't film yet.

"The problem is that Freddie now has a backlog of shows which are just waiting for him to start filming," a source told The Sun.

"As well as Top Gear, which has been put on ice until he's well enough to consider coming back, he has already signed up for a second series of his cricketing doc series, Field of Dreams.

"So producers have no idea when Freddie will be able to start hosting this new motoring show and it might end up being more than a year away."

They added: "Which is frustrating for execs who’d gradually been giving him more and more projects in a bid to make him a BBC face."

The BBC declined to comment.

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