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Quote:Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car while filming for the programme.

The presenter, 36, was taken by air ambulance to a Leeds hospital which has a special neurological unit.

A North Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman said he was unconscious when they got to the scene but was regaining consciousness at the hospital.

A BBC spokesman confirmed the presenter had been injured during a shoot.

:(

shoot man the show won't be the same with out Hampster! lol

update:

Quote: Sky News is reporting Top Gear's Richard Hammond was:

"...reportedly driving 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."

The Vampire, sponsored by the Swedish company Thule, weighs 2,200 lbs, is 30 feet long and drinks 7-10 gallons of fuel per mile (depending on the speed). The jet-car accelerates from 0 to 272 mph in six seconds and is powered by a Rolls Royce Orpheus jet engine and is theoretically capable of 370mph. The Vampire holds the "Outright British Land Speed Record" with a blistering fast 300.3mph. Sky News continues with some first hand accounts of the accident after the jump.

"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 the airfield northeast 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."

at least he was in a jet powered car... and not getting stuck in the heart by a windshield wiper while walking by a parked corvette stingray

Praying :(

ANTHONYD,Sep 20 2006, 06:10 PM Wrote:Praying :(
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double here.

They really ARE trying to kill Hamster aren't they? Freezing him didn't work, bolts of lightning didn't work, drowning him didn't work, hopefully crashing a rocket car doesn't work either. The show just wouldn't be the same without him!

I hope he's alright, he's been upgraded to Stable condition last I heard. So that's good news!

Yeah, he makes the show... that's for sure. I hope it all works out in the end for him.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you know what that means!!!! ....They are going to delay the season premier!!!


I hope hes ok too!.....Like I really mean it !

euro_zx5,Sep 21 2006, 12:40 AM Wrote:Yeah, he makes the show... that's for sure. I hope it all works out in the end for him.
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He makes the show for me too. Hopefully he's out of the hospital soon!

Ryan

Richard 'has improved'
Richard Hammond is 'stable' but remains seriously ill in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car.

The accident happened during filming for the new series of Top Gear at the former RAF airfield in Elvington, near York.

Richard was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary's neurological unit. A hospital spokesman said this morning: "He has seen some improvement overnight, but remains in a serious but stable condition."

Richard's wife Mindy and their daughters Willow and Isabella are at his bedside. We'll update you on his condition as we find out more, but for now our thoughts are with his family.

We've spoken to Jeremy this morning - he's visited Richard and Mindy in Leeds and you can read his statement here.

Obviously the crash will be fully investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and the BBC.

The BBC said in a statement: "We are pleased to hear that Richard has improved slightly overnight, but we continue to be concerned about his condition and we are keeping in touch with his family.

"The circumstances of this accident will be fully investigated by the BBC, and this process began last night.

"We will, of course, be fully co-operating with any investigation by the police and the Health and Safety Executive. Until the BBC's investigation is complete, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of what happened."

FROM JEREMY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeremy arrives at Leeds
Jeremy and James have arrived at Leeds General Infirmary to visit Richard and his family.

Jeremy told TopGear.com: "Richard remains in intensive care. Obviously at this time both he and his family are the most important concerns we have. It must be devastating for his wife Mindy and his two utterly adorable children.

"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. Both James and I are looking forward to getting our Hamster back."

In addition, we've already received a number of emails at TopGear.com wishing Richard well. If you'd like to add your thoughts, please email us.

We've posted some of your messages on the website and do our best to make sure Richard receives them all.

I just Emailed Top Gear
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On behalf of the Canadian Ford Focus community, we would like to extend our prayers to Richard and his family.
We wish him a quick recovery.

God Bless.

FOCUSCANADA.NET

ANTHONYD,Sep 21 2006, 12:33 PM Wrote:I just Emailed Top Gear
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On behalf of the Canadian Ford Focus community, we would like to extend our prayers to Richard and his family.
We wish him a quick recovery.

God Bless.

FOCUSCANADA.NET
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good call

the bbc better give him one of his favorite cars (my fav also) a Zonda F

BBC News Wrote: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.

Rest can be found at BBC News.

That's just horrible, I hope he can make a good recovery, the show will come in time, if he's able and willing of course.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...nhammond122.xml

Andrew English and Richard Alleyne, Telegraph Wrote:Richard is a bit bashed in but still the irritating guy I love

James May, a friend and colleague of the injured Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, said yesterday he was confident his co-star would make a full recovery after his horrific car crash.

May, who had originally been due to drive the jet-propelled dragster for the BBC2 programme, breathed a sigh of relief after visiting Hammond in hospital.

He said that although Hammond, 36, was a bit "bashed in" and could not talk properly, he remained his normal cocky self.

May, who spent a number of hours with his fellow presenter yesterday, said: "The specialist says he's got substantial head injuries and that's pretty clear when you see him.

"But they're reasonably confident of a recovery. With these sorts of injuries there are days of observations to make before they're absolutely sure."

May, who writes a column for The Daily Telegraph motoring section, said his friend was not a pretty sight and he had been worried that he might lose an eye.

"His eye is a bit bashed in but I was very pleased to hear the doctors say he hadn't got any damage to the lens or the retina and that his sight will be OK," he said.

May, who with Hammond plays a foil to Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear, was at his friend's bedside for several hours.

"He tried to sit up when I came in and he gave me a sort of grin, which I have to say was a very uplifting moment for me," he said. "I had a bit of an unmanly moment at that point.

"I was chuffed to see him and although he's muttering, he seems much like the irritating little s*** I know and love. Even when he can't say much, he seemed to make as much sense as he does when he can talk normally."

May dismissed stories that he stepped down at the last moment to allow Hammond to drive the jet-powered dragster.

"Someone's got hold of a shooting schedule, which was written weeks ago and at that time, I was pencilled in for driving the jet car and Richard was driving a Bugatti Veyron.

Then the jet-car availability dates changed and Richard and I had to do a swap — I was quite annoyed about it at the time. This sort of thing happens all the time, the dates are not set in stone.

"Having seen him today I do believe Richard will make a full recovery from this awful crash and, when he's back on his feet, I'm looking forward to going down to the pub with him."

Clarkson, who also visited Hammond in Leeds General Infirmary, paid tribute to his co-presenter, who is nicknamed "Hamster" because of his small frame.

He said: "Obviously both he and his family are the most important concerns we have. It must be devastating for his wife Mindy and his two utterly adorable children.

"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.

"Both James and I are looking forward to getting our Hamster back."

Doctors said Hammond was showing signs of improvement although he remained "serious but stable". But any brain injury gave them "cause for concern".

His father, Alan, who was looking after Hammond's daughters Willow, two, and Isabella, five, in Gloucestershire, expressed fears about the injuries his son received when the record-breaking Vampire dragster veered off the runway and flipped over several times.

He said: "It is a very hard time for both me and my wife. We are just hoping that Richard pulls through. His children are very confused."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006440317,00.html

'Richard is winning his fight' - Clarkson

I posted before, the story of how a buddy of mine knocked himself senseless after taking a blind jump into a concrete parking block on his mountain bike, accordianing the Kona Stinky frame and splitting his multiple impact helmet in 2...

while he was concious the entire time after the accident, 6 or so hours later, while the doctor was tending to his separated shoulder, his eyes went open and he states, "whoah.. we're in the hospital...something bad musta happened.".

yeah, you crashed your bike you idiot

anyways he bounced back, with the only lingering side effects being a couple months without short term memory...

seems, the hamster bounced back in much the same way...

Quote: By SHARON HENDRY
September 23, 2006

RICHARD Hammond has stunned family and friends by taking his first faltering steps — just 30 HOURS after his horror dragster accident.

The astonishing hospital scene was witnessed by The Hamster’s fellow Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

Writing exclusively in The Sun, our columnist Jeremy revealed: “In the wee small hours Richard Hammond suddenly sat up in bed, opened his eyes and asked what had happened. ‘You’ve been in a car accident,’ I said. ‘Was I driving like a tw*t?’, he asked, before getting out of bed and walking, shakily, to the lavatory.

“Despite all the odds, it seemed we’d got our Hamster back.”

he seems to be back and in good sprits.

Yeah. He's been moved to General care. Now there's talk of the series being cancelled etc.. however even the Ministry of Transportation (Mr Ladyman) thinks the show should continue. So that's good news. Now all they have to put up with is Health and Safety.