Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, the renowned former England cricketer and television personality, is lending his voice to a campaign aimed at expanding the number of helipads at hospitals across the United Kingdom. The cause is deeply personal for Flintoff, who credits a hospital helipad with helping to save his life after a harrowing car accident in December 2022 while filming for BBC's Top Gear at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Flintoff's ordeal began during a routine day of shooting for the popular motoring show. In a split second, a test drive went awry, and he suffered severe injuries in a crash that left him "pulled face-down on the runway for about 50 metres under the car," as he later recounted in a documentary about his recovery, streamed on Disney+. The trauma was so intense that, in his own words, he "thought he had died in the accident." For months after, Flintoff withdrew from public life, venturing out only for medical appointments as he navigated a long and challenging rehabilitation.
What made the difference in those crucial moments following the crash? According to Flintoff, it was the immediate access to specialist care made possible by a helipad atop St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South London—a major trauma centre. That helipad, he notes, was funded by the Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (Help) Appeal, a charity dedicated to supporting rapid medical transport infrastructure across the country.
Reflecting on his experience, Flintoff said, "When I was airlifted, that helipad wasn’t just a safe spot to land on the hospital roof, it was a vital step in giving me a second chance as I had immediate access to the specialist care which helped saved my life." He added, drawing on his cricketing background, "As every cricket pitch has a wicket, every hospital that needs one should have a helipad." (BBC and Sky News).
Flintoff’s support for the Help Appeal comes at a pivotal time. The charity has already funded 32 NHS hospital helipads, facilitating an astonishing 30,000 landings, and has provided 23 major upgrades to existing sites. Now, the organization has set its sights on funding 40 new and upgraded helipads, aiming to ensure that more patients across the UK have the same rapid access to lifesaving care that Flintoff received.
Robert Bertram, chief executive of the Help Appeal, underscored the urgency of the campaign. "We are incredibly grateful to have Freddie’s support, especially knowing that his life was saved thanks, in part, to a Help Appeal-funded helipad. His story highlights exactly why the charity’s work is so vital—seconds count in a medical emergency and that helipad made all the difference. Freddie’s backing brings invaluable awareness to the importance of rapid access to emergency care for everyone, everywhere." (BBC and The Independent).
The importance of helipads in trauma care is not lost on medical professionals. Sir Keith Porter, emeritus professor of clinical traumatology at the University of Birmingham, described the charity’s role as "crucial" in ensuring patients reach the right hospital at the right time. "Helicopter Emergency Medical Services have the ability to deliver critical care teams at or close to the side of a patient and then to transport them to the most appropriate hospital for their clinical needs, in the case of injury, usually a major trauma centre. Minutes count, particularly for patients with life-threatening bleeding, where the extra journey time can make the difference between life and death. The Help Appeal, by funding on-site helipads, helps facilitate the prompt delivery of patients directly into the emergency department with a trolley-push from the landing site." (Sky News).
Despite the clear benefits, helipad infrastructure is not nationally commissioned by NHS England. Instead, funding for air ambulances and landing pads falls to individual NHS trusts, often relying on external grants and charitable support like that offered by the Help Appeal. The charity provides grants that can cover either the full or partial cost of constructing new helipads, helping to bridge gaps in public funding and ensure that critical infrastructure is available where it is most needed. As Bertram pointed out, "Seconds count in a medical emergency."
Flintoff’s advocacy is not just about infrastructure; it’s also a heartfelt tribute to the NHS staff who cared for him during his lowest moments. He recently visited St George’s Hospital to thank the healthcare workers who, in his words, showed "expertise, love and compassion" during his recovery. He described NHS staff as "superheroes," recalling the aftermath of the crash as "the lowest I’ve ever been." (The Independent and BBC).
The story of Flintoff’s accident and recovery has resonated with the public, in part because of his openness about the physical and emotional toll it exacted. In the Disney+ documentary chronicling his journey, Flintoff shared how the split-second decision-making skills honed on the cricket field may have helped him minimize the impact of the crash. Yet, he makes clear that the real heroes were the medical teams and the infrastructure that enabled such swift care.
For months after the incident, Flintoff disappeared from the public eye, a stark contrast to his usually vibrant media presence. Now, at 47, he is channeling his experience into advocacy, hoping that his story will spur action and awareness. "Helipads are not just a luxury," he insists. "They’re a necessity for any hospital that deals with major trauma."
The Help Appeal’s ongoing efforts have already made a tangible difference, but the need remains pressing. With thousands of landings recorded at the existing helipads and many more hospitals still lacking this vital infrastructure, the campaign has found a powerful and persuasive champion in Flintoff.
His experience serves as a stark reminder that emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere, and that the difference between life and death can hinge on something as seemingly simple as a place to land a helicopter. Flintoff’s message—echoed by medical professionals and charity leaders alike—is clear: when it comes to trauma care, every second counts, and every hospital that needs a helipad should have one.
As the campaign gathers momentum, the hope is that Flintoff’s story will inspire both public support and policy change, ensuring that the lifesaving potential of hospital helipads is available to all who might need it, not just the fortunate few.
