Richard Hammond Critically Ill

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From the BBC:

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.

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:cry: Get better soon Hamster Boy :wub:
 
Just got in and seen this on the TV - not good at all. They say he's still in intensive care - hope he's ok, he seems an all round good fella.
 
Good news - the BBC are now reporting that Richard is stable. :)

Taken from their website :

TV host seriously hurt in crash

The presenter is being treated at Leeds General Infirmary
Top Gear's Richard Hammond is seriously ill in hospital after a crash in a rocket-powered car while filming for the programme.
The 36-year-old presenter was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary's neurological unit.

A spokesman for the hospital said Mr Hammond was "stable".

Mr Hammond had been driving a dragster-style car capable of reaching 300mph at the former RAF airfield in Elvington, near York.


He has brought an awful lot to the programme

Quentin Willson, former Top Gear presenter

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".

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


The scene at the former RAF airfield where the crash happened

"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 Wilson 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 mindblowing.

"You want to do a fantastic item that blows everybody away."

The presenter, who works on Top Gear with fellow hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May, was born in Birmingham, 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.
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He's a lovely young fellow - at least that's how he's always struck me - and certainly rescued Top Gear from becoming just a Jeremy Clarkson Show. I hope he pulls through his injuries and is as soon as possible back in the driving seat.
 
A wife and children, according the NTL online. Not that those have ever stopped men exploring the outer reaches of endurance, human or mechanical.
 
Colin, I think it is termed a car but nothing like one that we see on the roads.
This is a chassis on wheels powered by a jet engine.
 
Top Gear was already mucking about with one in a programme aired only a few weeks ago, so I'm assuming they've gone for another attempt. Yes, it was more slightly-guided missile on wheels!
 
Evidently, in the practice run, Richard managed to beat the British (I think) land/speed record, and it was on the next attempt that it appears one of the parachutes (brakes) went up and Richard veered off onto the grass. It appears the vehicle (as it is) tipped over and the side of Richard's head was crushed as the roll-bar was above his head as in a F1 car. Sounds nasty, but evidently he had a strong pulse and was breathing, although unconscious when they got to him, and this morning he is continuing to make (slow) progress.

Richard has a wife and two adorable girls. Let's hope he makes a steady recobery.
 
no seemed about it - he is a nice guy. Latest stuff says hes iu IT, but stable - and he was concious enough to tell the paramedics he had lower bak pain hwen they were taking him to Leeds.

Get Well Soon hampster hand luggage xxxx
 
Just seen that he's had a brain scan which showed no bleed to his brain, which has to be positive news.

The girls and I are huge Hamster fans, they were upset when I told them this morning. We're all hoping for a full and quick recovery.
 
Evidently, Richard has a "significant" brain injury although the doctors are hopeful of a "good" recovery.

With the amount of news coverage he is getting, I think it shows how popular the Hamster is amongst so many people of so many different ages.

He is the only reason I watch Top Gear, and I particularly loved a recent episode when they managed to set fire to a motorhome. All staged of course, but extremely funny.
 
I think he's great myself, I'm really worried he may have permanent brain damage though, which I assume will mean we won't see him on our screens again. :(

Get well soon hamster.
 
I think he's brilliant . I was just saying to someone the other day what a great presenter he is and the rapport between the 3 of them on Top Gear makes the show . I really hope that the injuries arn't as serious as feared . Get well soon Hammy
 
Great news just announced that Richard Hammond has been moved out of intensive care this morning. :)
 
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