DistantNews
Support us
Andrew Flintoff's Top Gear crash passenger sues BBC Studios
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Culture & Society

Andrew Flintoff's Top Gear crash passenger sues BBC Studios

From BBC News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A racing driver who was a passenger in Andrew Flintoff's 2022 Top Gear crash is suing BBC Studios for up to £150,000.
  • Paul Rees claims personal injury, while BBC Studios denies negligence and blames Rees's instructions for the accident.
  • Flintoff, who settled with the BBC in 2023, suffered severe injuries and described thinking he was dead.

A racing driver who was a passenger in the car with Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff when it crashed during Top Gear filming in 2022 is suing BBC Studios for personal injury. Paul Rees, who provided driving advice from the passenger seat, is seeking up to £150,000 in damages, according to court documents.

Flintoff expressed concern at one point when the car's front wheel lifted as he took a corner, but was reassured by Rees that it could not roll over.

— BBC Studios' defence filingsDescribing Flintoff's reaction during the filming.

It was not previously known that anyone else was in the three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 when it overturned. Flintoff sustained serious facial and rib injuries in the December 2022 incident at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. BBC Studios, in its legal response, stated that Rees did not complain of any injuries at the time and denied negligence, asserting that Rees's "faulty instructions" led to the accident.

now turn right... now full power, full power

— Paul ReesThe instruction given to Flintoff, according to BBC Studios' defence filings.

Court documents reveal that microphones in the car captured Flintoff expressing concern when the car's front wheel lifted on a corner, only to be reassured by Rees that it could not roll over. BBC Studios' defense filings claim that Rees instructed Flintoff to "now turn right... now full power, full power" on approaching the same corner again, leading to the car overturning. The document also notes that Rees never suggested he had suffered any injury after the accident.

a front wheel lifted and because on the claimant's instruction the presenter continued to apply power the Morgan turned over

— BBC Studios' defence filingsClaiming Rees's instructions led to the accident.

Flintoff, who co-hosted Top Gear at the time, has spoken about the crash, describing being dragged face-down under the car for about 50 meters and believing he was dead. He also revealed he did not leave his house for six months, except for medical appointments. Flintoff reached a compensation settlement with the BBC in 2023. Reports suggest the broadcaster is exploring a return for the Top Gear show.

At no time in the period after the accident did the claimant suggest that he had suffered any injury in the accident.

— Court documentStating Rees did not report injuries immediately after the crash.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog