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.

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."

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

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."

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.”