![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/28\/21\/77123119-12683795-image-a-11_1698523507775.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHe has rarely been seen in public since the horrific Top Gear crash that left him with ‘life-altering’ injuries.<\/p>\n
But retired England cricketer Freddie Flintoff was last week spotted out training a guide dog \u2013 an activity he’s taken up as part of his rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
Both the presenter and his canine sidekick appeared to be making good progress… especially given that in the early days of training, Flintoff was prone to taking a tumble while walking his four-legged pupil.<\/p>\n
Last month, his former team-mate Steve Harmison spoke about a reunion with the injured star a few weeks earlier. ‘Believe it or not, he was training a guide dog,’ he told TalkSport.<\/p>\n
‘Which I’m sure is going better now than it was, because he tripped over about three times on his way around the field.’<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Freddie Flintoff has rarely been seen in public since the horrific Top Gear crash that left him with ‘life-altering’ injuries<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/28\/21\/77123123-12683795-image-a-12_1698523543209.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
MAN’S BEST FRIEND: Freddie walking his puppy in training near his home<\/p>\n
Flintoff wore a beanie hat, backpack and tinted glasses as he walked the ‘puppy in training’ near his \u00a35.25 million home in Hale, Manchester, last week.<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old is getting back on his feet after suffering a broken rib and severe facial injuries when the Morgan Super 3 roadster he was driving flipped at the Top Gear test track at Dunsford Aerodrome in Surrey in December.<\/p>\n
He lost control of the three-wheeled, open-topped vehicle while taking a corner at just 22mph, but he was not wearing a helmet and was airlifted to hospital.<\/p>\n
The father-of-four, the hero of England’s 2005 Ashes triumph, quit his job after the accident and the BBC cancelled the last series of the show.<\/p>\n
Until a few months ago, he was still covering his face as his injuries were so acute.<\/p>\n
But last month he appeared in public for the first time to coach England cricketers.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/28\/21\/77123125-12683795-image-a-13_1698523687774.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Freddie Flintoff with his wife Rachael at the Altitude Awards in October 2018<\/p>\n
Speaking afterwards, Harmison said: ‘It was great to see him back.<\/p>\n
‘You’ve seen the pictures of him with a smile on his face but I saw him about six weeks ago… but at that time he covered his face up.’<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Flintoff, who has four children with his wife Rachael, was paid \u00a39 million in compensation by BBC Studios for the accident, a figure based on two years’ lost earnings.<\/p>\n
The BBC says no final decision has been made about the future of Top Gear.<\/p>\n
However, Flintoff will return to the BBC for a second series of Field Of Dreams, mentoring youngsters in cricket.<\/p>\n