Top Gear Man In Crash

 

 

Richard Hammond, one of the presenters of TV's Top Gear, is in critical condition following a car crash.

 

Mr Hammond was hurt while filming an edition of the show near Leeds.

 

He was reportedly trying to set a new land speed record for Britain in a jet-powered Vampire car when it overturned.

 

Mr Hammond was said to have been reaching speeds of up to 280mph as the accident happened.

 

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary.

 

Firefighter Dave Ogden, who witnessed the crash, told Sky News that the 36-year-old presenter was able to speak as he was taken out of the wreckage of the car.

 

Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers were dealing with the incident at Elvington airfield, southeast of York, where the filming was taking place.

 

He said: "At 5.45pm this evening we received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in what was described as an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield.

 

"The male occupant has received serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital at Leeds."

 

A spokeswoman for the BBC, which produces Top Gear, said: "The incident happened quite recently and the focus of our attention is on Richard at this stage."

 

Mr Hammond, who lives near Cheltenham with his wife Amanda and their two daughters, has also presented Sky's Brainiac and shows including Time Commanders and Petrolheads.

 

More follows ...

 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1234566,00.html

 

Get Well Soon Hammy :(

:whatever:

 

Lol, sorry i couldnt help that, i was trying to find the :sad: smiley when i saw that and it made me laugh which cheered me up.

 

This is gutting news, i'm a fan of the show so yea i'm :sad:, but that smiley made me laugh.

:(

:o:o That is very shocking news..for a moment i thought it would be Jeremy....

 

:(

I only just saw that on the news this morning :stunned:

 

Here's the update:

 

TV host 'improving' after crash

 

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is improving but remains seriously ill in hospital after he crashed a jet-powered car during filming for the BBC show.

The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.

 

The Health and Safety Executive and the BBC will investigate the incident.

 

The corporation, whose conduct is likely to be closely scrutinised, said in a statement: "We are looking into all the factors of this accident."

 

The statement continued: "It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage until we know the full situation."

 

The Leeds General Infirmary, where Hammond was taken by helicopter, said his wife was at his bedside and, at the request of his family, no further information would be released.

 

Motoring expert Adam Rayner, of Fast Car magazine, said that at those speeds the driver would experience forces similar to those endured by fighter pilots.

 

"These cars accelerate at 6G - the force is breathtaking and stopping is a real difficulty," he said.

 

Former firefighter Dave Ogden, who runs private firm Event Fire Services, was one of the first people at the scene of the crash.

 

He said: "We were down there with Top Gear who were filming him trying to break the British land speed record.

 

"On the previous run, the car had just gone over 300mph but I am not sure if it had broken the record.

 

"They had just done one more run and were planning to finish when it veered off to the right.

 

"One of the parachutes had deployed but it went on to the grass and spun over and over before coming to a rest about 100 yards from us."

 

He said his crew and an ambulance that was already on the airfield rushed over and found the car upside down and "dug in" to the grass.

 

Mr Ogden said he felt for a pulse and heard Mr Hammond breathing before the emergency crews worked together to turn the car the right way up and then cut him free.

 

He added: "He was regaining consciousness at that point and said he had some lower back pain. But he was drifting in and out of consciousness a little bit."

 

Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson said the presenter was "irreplaceable".

 

'International personality'

 

He said: "He is a wonderful, unique and distinctive Top Gear presenter.

 

"He has brought an awful lot to the programme and his indefatigable energy, the fact that he tries absolutely anything once, may have been the reason that he has overstepped the mark a bit.

 

"He has turned Top Gear into a gang show with Jeremy and James and the three of them have wowed audiences all over the world and he is an international personality."

 

Mr Willson added: "There is no pressure from the BBC or the producer to take undue risks.

 

"But that pressure is in your own head. You want to do an item on the programme which is mind-blowing."

 

The presenter, who works on Top Gear with fellow hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May, grew up in Solihull, was educated in Yorkshire and lives near Cheltenham with his wife and children.

 

In addition to presenting Top Gear for the BBC, he also fronted Brainiac on Sky One until recently.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5366422.stm

This is what a Jet powered Vampire car looks like

New Update:

 

TV presenter 'stable' after crash

 

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is stable but remains seriously ill in hospital after he crashed a jet-powered car during filming for the BBC show.

The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.

 

The BBC, which is likely to be closely scrutinised, and the Health and Safety Executive will investigate the crash.

 

Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson, who was visiting the hospital, said many motorists were "rooting for" Hammond.

 

Clarkson was joined at the Leeds General Infirmary by the show's other presenter, James May.

 

He said in a statement that Hammond and his family were "the most important concerns we have".

 

"I would just like to say how heartened Richard will be when I tell him just how many motorists and truck drivers on my way here wound down their windows to say they were rooting for him."

 

Referring to Hammond by his nickname, Clarkson added: "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our 'hamster' back."

 

He was initially reported to have suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the neurological unit of hospital by helicopter.

 

A spokesman said Hammond's condition, which was described as serious but stable, had showed some improvement overnight.

 

Doctors confirmed that his wife was at his bedside and his family had requested that no further information be released.

 

Hammond was driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire - used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record.

 

It is thought Hammond was attempting to break Fallows' record of 300.3mph.

 

The BBC said in a statement that they had already begun to investigate the accident and promised full co-operation with the Health and Safety Executive.

 

"We continue to be concerned about his condition and we are keeping in touch with his family," the statement said.

 

Top Gear has courted controversy in the past over its big-budget car stunts.

 

In 1999 a group of MPs criticised the series for being "obsessed with acceleration and speed".

 

Last year, lobby group Transport 2000 called for the show to be taken off the air accusing it of "glamorising speed and failing to make the connection with danger on the roads".

 

At the time, Hammond defended the programme, saying: "Top Gear is an entertaining show, for people that are interested in cars, that is driven by people who have been motoring journalists for many, many years."

 

Parachutes deployed

 

Former firefighter Dave Ogden, who was working with Hammond at the Elvington airfield near York, said the car had done several runs when it "veered off to the right".

 

"One of the parachutes had deployed but it went on to the grass and spun over and over before coming to a rest about 100 yards from us."

 

His crew and an ambulance rushed over and had to cut Hammond free from the wreckage.

 

Steve Berry, one of Top Gear's former presenters, said the show had changed over the years.

 

In the past, he said audiences would have been happy to see the presenter interviewing the driver.

 

"That's not any good anymore... the audience and the TV producers want you as a presenter to be there, on the inside."

 

Hammond grew up in Solihull, was educated in Yorkshire and lives near Cheltenham with his wife and children.

 

In addition to presenting Top Gear for the BBC, he also fronted Brainiac on Sky One and had his own show on ITV1.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5366422.stm

thats so terrible... i love top gear.. it wouldn't be the same without hammond... i hope hes alright...

He's absolutely lovely, and I hope he gets better soon.

Latest Update:

 

TV presenter suffers brain injury

 

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has suffered a "significant brain injury" after crashing a jet-powered car at speeds of up to 300mph during filming.

 

Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary said they were "reasonably optimistic" the 36-year-old would make a good recovery.

 

The BBC, which is likely to face close scrutiny, has begun an inquiry. The police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are also investigating.

 

Event organisers insisted that proper safety precautions were taken.

 

:cry: :cry: :cry:

 

Get Well soon hamster.

Aww man :(

 

Hope he gets well soon.

I was really shocked when I hear this. I hope its not serious..well it obviously is, but hopefully he'll be ok. Its annoying because all the reports are varried...

I'm still not over it. :(

Update: He's out of intensive care, which sounds promising :)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5369512.stm

Top Gear's Richard Hammond is out of intensive care and is making "satisfactory progress", doctors say.

 

A Leeds General Infirmary spokesman said: "Doctors say Richard Hammond is making satisfactory progress.

 

"This morning he has been moved from intensive care on to a high dependency unit.

 

"His condition has been downgraded from 'serious but stable' to 'stable'."

*keeps up the vibes*

with all the messages of goodwill on the BBC site, the cosmic ordering ought to sort him out a treat

If anyone wants to donate to the air ambulance service which took him to the hospital visit this site:

http://www.justgiving.com/PHRichardHammond

Hammonds 'overwhelmed' by support

 

The wife of injured Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond says she has been overwhelmed by the public support since her husband's high-speed car crash.

Amanda "Mindy" Hammond said she has had messages from around the world since his accident in a jet-powered car, during filming near York, on Wednesday.

 

The 36-year-old presenter's condition is said by doctors to be "stable".

 

"He's starting to look like Richard again. He's tough as hell and on his way back," Mrs Hammond told the Mirror.

 

Father-of-two Mr Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury" when he crashed. The accident is being investigated by the BBC, the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

 

Mrs Hammond told the Mirror: "He's spoken and smiled. It's early days and what has happened hasn't really sunk in for him.

 

"The whole family is overwhelmed by everyone's support. There have been so many flowers, cards and e-mails from around the world.

 

"To know that so many people love him is astounding. We want to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers."

 

Jeremy Clarkson, one of Mr Hammond's co-presenters on the BBC show, told the Sun newspaper his colleague had got to his feet and walked "shakily" to the toilet during the early hours of Friday.

 

And fellow Top Gear presenter James May said on Friday he believed the injured presenter was "perfectly intact" after the pair had had a conversation at his hospital bedside.

 

"I'm not a doctor but I am his mate and I believe that deep inside the Hammond I know is perfectly intact," he said.

 

Mr Hammond, who lives near Cheltenham, Glos, is out of intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary and said to be making "satisfactory progress".

 

Doctors have previously said they are "reasonably optimistic" he will make a good recovery.

 

The presenter had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3mph.

 

Mr Hammond had to be cut free after the car "veered off to the right" and its parachutes opened during a drive at Elvington airfield.

 

Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which supplied the car and a support team for the event, said the vehicle "had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards".

 

The BBC said in a statement that it had started an investigation into the accident and promised full co-operation with the HSE.

 

A BBC spokeswoman also confirmed the final part of the Best of Top Gear, which was due to be screened on 1 October, had been postponed indefinitely.

 

It would have been broadcast ahead of the new series of Top Gear but the corporation has said it is not in a position to confirm the transmission of the new series.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5372890.stm

"Hamster Takes First Steps

Updated: 17:12, Saturday September 23, 2006

 

Doctors have moved Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond out of a high dependency unit and on to a ward, his family has said.

 

In a statement, they said the 36-year-old is continuing to make good progress and that they have been overwhelmed by the support they have received.

 

But so many flowers have been sent to the hospital that Hammond is "worried Jeremy Clarkson and James May will start taking the mickey".

 

The family has asked fans to donate money to Yorkshire's air ambulance service instead.

 

It was earlier revealed that Hammond had taken his first steps since his high-speed car crash at Elvington airfield, near York."

 

Excellent news that he is making good progress enough to be moved into a normal ward :D

He'll be back in his wheel before you know it

The BBC said in a statement that it promised full co-operation with the HSE.

or what? :rolleyes:

Hammond donations flood charity

 

An appeal by the family of injured Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has led to a flood of donations to the air ambulance which flew him to hospital.

So far, £130,000 has been raised for Yorkshire Air Ambulance - £50,000 from a single donor.

 

Meanwhile, his family say Mr Hammond is now on a general hospital ward after his crash in a jet-powered car on an airfield near York.

 

The 36-year-old suffered a brain injury during filming for the BBC show.

 

He has since been joking with his wife about the amount of flowers he has been sent.

 

Amanda Hammond urged well-wishers to consider making a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance instead.

 

A group of motoring enthusiasts has set up a web page for contributions.

 

All the money raised so far has "brought forward" plans to buy a new, second helicopter, Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity chief executive Martin Eede said.

 

"In over 25 years in the voluntary sector I've never known anything like this - we're completely overwhelmed, grateful, thankful," he told the BBC.

 

"And the good thing is that we'll be able to expand the service due to this kick-start that we've got for our appeal, so there are other people who will benefit like Richard."

 

The BBC has said it has started an investigation into Wednesday's accident, which happened at Elvington airfield while Mr Hammond was driving at speeds of up to 300mph.

 

It also confirmed the final part of the Best of Top Gear had been postponed indefinitely and the new series, due to begin on 8 October, will be delayed.

 

The BBC added: "We would like to express our thanks to the 40,000 people who have sent goodwill messages about Richard."

 

It said the messages were being passed on and would be a "terrific boost" for the presenter.

 

Mrs Hammond said the family had been overwhelmed by the flowers and messages of support received from well-wishers since her husband suffered what doctors say was a significant brain injury.

 

But she added: "However, Richard is now beginning to worry that [co-presenters] Jeremy [Clarkson] and James [May] will start taking the mickey, so it would be great if - instead of flowers - people could make a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 

"The service is entirely funded by charitable donations and there's little doubt in my mind that without it, Richard would not be making the excellent progress he is."

 

Mr Hammond's condition is described as stable by doctors at Leeds General Infirmary.

 

Top Gear co-presenter Mr Clarkson, a Sun columnist, said in the paper on Saturday that the father-of-two had got to his feet and walked "shakily" to the toilet during the early hours of Friday - just 30 hours after the crash.

 

Mr Hammond had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3 mph.

 

Mr Hammond, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, had to be cut free after the car "veered off to the right" and its parachutes opened during the drive.

 

Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which supplied the car and a support team for the event, said the vehicle "had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5374918.stm

The new helicopter is going to be called "The Hamster" acording to the sun.

Why? is it going to be a child sized one?

The new helicopter is going to be called "The Hamster" acording to the sun.

 

 

the bbc website has a video of an interview with the Chief of Yorkshire Ambulance, and he refers to it as the "hammy heli"