Perks
21-09-06, 09:13
Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is improving but remains seriously ill in hospital after he crashed a jet-powered car during filming for the BBC show.
The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.
The Health and Safety Executive and the BBC will investigate the incident.
The corporation, whose conduct is likely to be closely scrutinised, said in a statement: "We are looking into all the factors of this accident."
The statement continued: "It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage until we know the full situation."
The Leeds General Infirmary, where Hammond was taken by helicopter, said his wife was at his bedside and, at the request of his family, no further information would be released.
Motoring expert Adam Rayner, of Fast Car magazine, said that at those speeds the driver would experience forces similar to those endured by fighter pilots.
"These cars accelerate at 6G - the force is breathtaking and stopping is a real difficulty," he said.
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.
Scene of Richard Hammond crash
The scene at the former RAF airfield where the crash happened
"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.
"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 Willson 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 mind-blowing."
The presenter, who works on Top Gear with fellow hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May, grew up in Solihull, was 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.
I really hope he pulls through and gets presenting again; judging from my reaction and my friends' reaction if he pegged it it'd be worse than Steve Irwin dying.
The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.
The Health and Safety Executive and the BBC will investigate the incident.
The corporation, whose conduct is likely to be closely scrutinised, said in a statement: "We are looking into all the factors of this accident."
The statement continued: "It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage until we know the full situation."
The Leeds General Infirmary, where Hammond was taken by helicopter, said his wife was at his bedside and, at the request of his family, no further information would be released.
Motoring expert Adam Rayner, of Fast Car magazine, said that at those speeds the driver would experience forces similar to those endured by fighter pilots.
"These cars accelerate at 6G - the force is breathtaking and stopping is a real difficulty," he said.
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.
Scene of Richard Hammond crash
The scene at the former RAF airfield where the crash happened
"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.
"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 Willson 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 mind-blowing."
The presenter, who works on Top Gear with fellow hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May, grew up in Solihull, was 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.
I really hope he pulls through and gets presenting again; judging from my reaction and my friends' reaction if he pegged it it'd be worse than Steve Irwin dying.