Media News
Top Gear presenter in high-speed smash
Thursday 21 September 2006
The 36-year-old presenter was immediately taken by air ambulance to a hospital in Leeds, which has a special neurological unit.
The accident happened when Hammond was filming at a former Royal Air Force base, where he was reportedly attempting to break the British Land Speed Record.
The jet-powered car in which he was filming is capable of reaching a speed of 300 miles per hour.
According to reports, the car veered off the track during the record attempt and then rolled over. Hammond had to be cut from the wreckage of the vehicle.
Dave Ogden, who was involved in the rescue, said that the presenter was speaking after he was taken from the car.
"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," Ogden said.
A hospital spokesperson later said: "There's been some improvement overnight but Richard remains in a serious but stable condition."
Hammond is married with two daughters.
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