Freddie Flintoff thanks ‘NHS superheroes’ as he is reunited with his care team following crash
Former England cricket captain Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff has been reunited with the care team who treated him following his car crash, praising their “expertise, love and compassion.”
In 2022, he was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting and underwent emergency surgery under the care of Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Jahrad Haq (pictured below), who described Flintoff’s case as one of the most complex he had seen in his 20-year career.
Following the recent release of a Disney+ documentary in which he shared his recovery journey, Flintoff returned to St George’s to be reunited with the team who cared for him.
He told staff: “I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George’s. 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.”
As well as Mr Haq, who featured in the documentary, Flintoff also met with staff including other surgeons, nurses and admin support who all played a key role in his recovery.
Shamim Umarji, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “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.
“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.”
Reflecting on the day Freddie was admitted, Mr Haq 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. Of all the trauma cases I’ve seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex.”
Kate Slemeck, Managing Director for St George’s University Hospitals 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.”
St George’s Hospital is part of the London Major Trauma System – a unique network of hospitals made up of four major trauma centres, including St George’s and other trauma units across London, as well as ambulance and air ambulance services.
The documentary, Flintoff, is available to stream in the UK on Disney+ now.
