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 Leeds General Infirmary which has a special neurological unit.
A North Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman said he was unconscious when they got to the scene and a hospital spokesman described him as "critical".
The BBC confirmed the presenter had been injured during a Top Gear shoot.
Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers were dealing with the incident at Elvington airfield, a former RAF base, in North Yorkshire.
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."
The presenter was born in Birmingham, educated in Yorkshire and lives near Cheltenham.
In addition to presenting Top Gear for the BBC, he also fronted Brainiac on Sky One until recently.
LINK (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5365676.stm)
He seems a nice fellow and I hope he's going to be okay, but it doesn't sound good...
edit: mixed messages coming from the beeb in this video (http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news_web/video/9012da680052158/bb/09012da6800521ae_16x9_bb.asx)
Saw it on the beeb earlier. Hope things turn out for the best?
Doesnt he "lead" Brainiac too? Shame :/
fingers crossed mate :nope:
..a nice chap ...hope he pulls thru
280mph crash apparently, hope he makes it...
As a dedicated fan of the show, which is one of the best albeit the minor decline last season, I too hope he will overcome this tragic accident. However, I can't help to wonder whether or not the hospital can prove if his teeth were whitened...:happy:
I hope he pulls through.
I like both the shows he's in: Top Gear and Brainiacs.
thats no good :blink: i hope hell be okee...
He is one of the most amusing presenters on TV at the moment, I hope he gets well real soon.
Also im hopeing to go to see the top gear boyos at this show www.mph06.co.uk (http://www.mph06.co.uk)
"This wasn't a high performance car, this wasn't a road car, this was a rocket-powered dragster which bears absolutely no relation to the kind of cars which are the main fodder of the 'Top Gear' program. This was a car that clearly contained its own risks," said Michael Harvey, editor of "Top Gear."
eek
"Serious but stable condition" is the latest
Clarkson is quoted as wishing Richard a fitting "... speedy recovery."
Who's going to tell The Stig?
(http://www.ochainn.ath.cx/images/hammond/tghearse.jpg)
Doggers, you are a bad, bad, bad, bad man.
But funny!
The "Hamster" would love it.
Obviously the damage is all to the brain, Mr Clarkson is quoted as saying he looks normal apart from a black eye. Lets hope the doctors are putting a "prepare them for the worst" statement out.
I share his sense of humour and believe that if we lose him from the TV we are losing the only current new tallent that can host an intelligent and humourous TV program.
All the best "Hammy" , make a full and speedy (definately no pun intended) recovery!
QuoteObviously the damage is all to the brain,
oh, that's ok then:narnar:
Hope he will pull through cause he's the shows he's in are one of the better, Braniac and Top Gear are golden shows. :biggrin:
Last thing i read was some brain damage, but he has a "speedy" recovery.
Last i heard he is walking.
Last i heard is that he smells.
Sorry, i had too :/
Quote from: smite;151998Last i heard he is walking.
Well he would be.....
The cars a write off.
:getmecoat:
Quote from: Liberator;152082Well he would be.....
The cars a write off.
:getmecoat:
:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
Evil but funny. Oh yes, definitely funny :)
:withstupid:
you're an evil, evil man Lib :rolleyes:
PEN
evil and very bad taste.
funneh tho.
on a serious note - e does look like he is getting better
Last news is hes up and walking about a bit again, looks like hes set for good recovery
Quote from: Bastet;152584Last news is hes up and walking about a bit again, looks like hes set for good recovery
Good not full?
whats he lost? :blink:
That was my 1st reaction as well,
To be realistic, his body will be quite shagged.
I would think, back/neck problems are most likley
Well thats what i heard, also stated its to early to tell if he makes a full recovery since he had a nasty bang on the head. And of there might be some phyco dmg.
Found a link that has Clarksons column in it from Sunday. (http://www.richardhammond.org.uk/content/view/23/30/)
There is also some good information in this weeks MCN.
Got another from the sun, talking of his good recovery and being transferred to a Hospital closer to home. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5384400.stm)
Fingers crossed on a speedy recovery :smile:
Pics tonight show him walking (albeit slowly). At least the fella's alive.
That column of Jeremy was very well written, shows that they're no different inside the studio than outside. And he's one loved chap, flowers and more does say something!