For all you Top Gear fans.. Richard Hammond was in an accident.

[dentrecords]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/5365676.stm

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 jet-powered car while filming for the BBC 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.

Let's hope he's ok!

[Izzy]

Yeah, for sure. Then again, they do some pretty ballsy stuff on the show. I hope he's okay though. The show will not be the same without him.

I watch Top Gear (repeatedly) more than regular television, and I sincerely hope that the "Hamm-ster" is going to be okay.

[atruhondagrl]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Yeah, for sure. Then again, they do some pretty ballsy stuff on the show. I hope he's okay though. The show will not be the same without him.

I watch Top Gear (repeatedly) more than regular television, and I sincerely hope that the "Hamm-ster" is going to be okay.

They do get crazy on there. I used to watch Top Gear and Brainiac religiously. I hope he gets better!

[O6 Si]

thanks for the info i love that man and his talking while taking 80mph turns im prayers r with him

[Corpsman]

I thought TG got cancelled in the US? Is it still on?? So that was the little guy, right?

[Skylinegtr06]

BLODDY HELL

[CaliGuy]

What channel is this show on? Times?

[Izzy]

Yes, it's been off air in the US for a while. But! There are always other way to watch it. Irregardless, Top Gear is one of the best shows...ever.

And yes, the "Hamm-ster" is the little one.

[Skylinegtr06]

DELETE

[Wicked_Stylz]

ummm.. Did anyone see the "Where do you work thread"? For all you bums that don't have a job....

JOB OPENING!!!!!



Get Better Richard!

[imtim25]

dam i hope hes ok. i love that show.

[marc-o-lishuz]

i hope Hamm-ster is ok.

I'm gonna send him a package of teeth whitening when he gets better.

[firmhonda]

That's ******* terrible. Top Gear was/is my favorite show on tv and he was like an idol to me. I mean, anyone that has seen that show knows what I'm talking about. Him and Jeremy Clarkson are 2 of the baddest car entusiasts ever to grace television and I hope that he pulls out of this okay.
As for Top Gear being cancelled, WTF?!?? Everyone I've talked to about that show loved it, and they cancelled it in america. I mean, they still show re-runs and everything but that's just not the same. Great Top Gear moments...
1) Teaching a nun to drive a monster truck
2) making a minivan into a convertable and then running it through tests
3) The 10000 lb supercar challenge..

http://www.topgear.com/content/timet...ctions/videos/

coolest job ever, that and mythbusters

[si_civic]

I seriously googled "Richard Hammon TOP GUN"

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by marc-o-lishuz

i hope Hamm-ster is ok.

I'm gonna send him a package of teeth whitening when he gets better.

Probably get him a Pagani Zonda F model instead of get-well balloons.

[marc-o-lishuz]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Probably get him a Pagani Zonda F model instead of get-well balloons.

Clarkson: "Look at Hamm-ster in that silly orange Zonda!"

love the supercar episode!!! James May's F430 Spyder ftw!!!

[hotrod]

That sucks. I like his views on the show.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by marc-o-lishuz

Clarkson: "Look at Hamm-ster in that silly orange Zonda!"

love the supercar episode!!! James May's F430 Spyder ftw!!!

"It's like a Lion in Orange Dungarees. Dangerous, but ridiculous".

[marc-o-lishuz]

^ heh... nice!

another fav: Top Gear RV trip... Clarkson burned down their RV... Hammster burned down the neighboring RV coz he lit a cushion on fire and threw it out their window!

[Izzy]

You watch too much Top Gear. And that part was right after they had spam on broken plates...and what happened to Top Gear Dog after he got sick? Odd....

Still, I think the Zonda/GT/430 episode had one of the best soundtracks they used. I still gotta find the songs they used for that.

My favorite Hammond moment?
Desert Rally Car vs. Motor-Powered Canoe