Image source, Getty Images
Flintoff needed extended facial country pursuing the crash
ByIan Youngs
Culture reporter
A racing operator who was successful the car with Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff erstwhile helium crashed portion filming Top Gear successful 2022 is suing BBC Studios.
Paul Rees gave the presenter adept driving proposal from the rider seat, and is present seeking up to £150,000 for idiosyncratic injury, according to tribunal documents.
It was not publically known that anyone other was successful the open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 erstwhile it overturned during filming. Flintoff suffered superior facial and rib injuries.
BBC Studios successful its ineligible effect said Rees did not kick of immoderate injuries astatine the clip oregon aft the crash. The institution denied it was negligent "as alleged oregon astatine all" and said Rees' "faulty instructions" led to the accident.
BBC News has seen Rees' assertion signifier filed successful December 2025 but not yet his afloat assertion to study the details. Rees, 41, from Oxfordshire, and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
Image source, Getty Images
Paul Rees is simply a racing operator and besides does filming and stunt driving for TV shows
The disposable tribunal documents springiness caller accusation astir what is claimed to person taken spot successful the incident, which occurred astatine Top Gear's trial way astatine Dunsfold Park Aerodrome successful Surrey connected 13 December 2022.
There were microphones successful the car, and BBC Studios said Flintoff expressed interest astatine 1 constituent erstwhile the car's beforehand instrumentality lifted arsenic helium took a corner, but was reassured by Rees that it could not rotation over.
Approaching the aforesaid country again, Rees told Flintoff to "now crook right... present afloat power, afloat power", BBC Studios' defence filings said.
The papers claimed that "a beforehand instrumentality lifted and due to the fact that connected the claimant's acquisition the presenter continued to use powerfulness the Morgan turned over".
The tribunal papers besides said: "At nary clip successful the play aft the mishap did the claimant suggest that helium had suffered immoderate wounded successful the accident."
Flintoff co-hosted Top Gear astatine the clip with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris
In a statement, BBC Studios said: "We quality this assertion and are defending it. As it's present earlier the courts, it would beryllium inappropriate to remark further."
Cricketer-turned-TV property Flintoff was 1 of 3 co-hosts of the long-running BBC motoring amusement astatine the clip of the crash.
He has described being dragged face-down underneath the car for astir 50 metres. "I thought I was dead," he told a Disney+ documentary past year.
He has besides said helium did not permission his location for six months aft the crash, but for aesculapian appointments. He reached a compensation settlement with the BBC successful 2023.
The BBC past "rested" Top Gear. According to reports, the broadcaster has been exploring a instrumentality of the show.
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