FREDDIE Flintoff’s wife Rachel was reportedly told to “expect the worst” after his Top Gear crash.

The England cricket legend, 45, suffered serious facial injuries and broken ribs in a 130mph crash while filming the show in December last year.

He was driving an open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 when it flipped over at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.

Freddie, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered the injuries when his face was dragged along the floor.

The popular presenter then faced an agonising 45-minute wait for an air ambulance to transport him to hospital.

His wife of 18 years Rachel hurried from their Cheshire home down to Surrey as Freddie underwent four hours of surgery.

And she was told to expect the worst as doctors worked to save his life, MailOnline reports.

The couple have four children together – Holly, Corey, Rocky and Preston.

It comes as Freddie has returned to the England fold this week as an unpaid consultant during the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand.

His time with the team is due to end after Friday’s fixture at Lord’s, though England’s players appear to be keen for him to stick around.

Freddie’s presence is understood to have buoyed the changing room, with many of England’s players having watched his rise to stardom during the 2005 Ashes series.

The Top Gear presenter has appeared in good spirits all week, being seen joking with the team.

But evidence of the injuries he suffered nine months ago are still visible, with a scar spanning from his nose down to his chin.

There are still fresh grazes on his face, too, along with signs of nerve damage.

Over the summer, Freddie covered his face as he attended three Ashes Tests in person as a guest of England’s director of cricket Rob Key.

Freddie watched one match “incognito” from a back office and attended the ground in disguise so to not draw attention.

But his former Lancashire coach David Lloyd today revealed Freddie has been in talks with his close friend Key over continuing in a role with the team.

The BBC, meanwhile, has publicly apologised to Freddie and has conducted an inquiry into the near-fatal crash.

The findings of the probe have not been released.