Top gear presenter Richard Hammond has been involved in a 315 MPH crash whilst filing the latest edition of the automative program on the BBC. Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond remains seriously ill in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car while filming for the BBC programme.

The 36-year-old was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary's neurological unit on Wednesday.

A hospital spokesman said: "He has seen some improvement overnight, but remains in a serious but stable condition."

Mr Hammond had been in a dragster-style car capable of reaching speeds of about 300mph at Elvington airfield near York.

The hospital said his wife was at his bedside and, at the request of his family, no more information would be released.

The crash will be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and the BBC.

The BBC said in a statement: "We are looking into all the factors of this accident and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage until we know the full situation."

The dragster car he was driving was believed to have been travelling at about 300mph when it crashed.

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. "
"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".

'International personality'

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 mindblowing."

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.

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SAY HI IN THE [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US AS MUCH ABOUT YOURSELF AS POSSIBLE !!

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It's really Sad I liked he Hamster I hope he makes it through O.K.

Why didn't they have "The Stig" drive the car though? I know the Hampster likes a chalange but surely a trained proffetional should be doing these things...

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Yeah hes a good lad, and I like him in braniac too ! I wish him a speedy recovery and wish his family well

They should have made Clarkson drive it instead !

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Sad to hear this myself. When he joined Top Gear he changed the program forever.

I wish his family strength at this testing time.

GET WELL SOON HAMSTER.

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If you want to see Richard Hammond in an Extract from Top Gear there is a Video link below... As always it's very funny... Our thoughts are with you Richard...

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yeah it sucks i feel for his family .....update on news today he has SERIOUS BRAIN injury but stable at present

Horror ... crash scene yesterday

TOP Gear host Jeremy Clarkson made his seriously ill co-star Richard Hammond smile yesterday — by calling him “a c**p driver”. Richard, 36, suffered a “significant brain injury” in a dragster crash at Elvington Airfield yesterday.

Jeremy, 46, spent the day with Richard and chatted to him for an hour. He told The Sun last night: “I was being nice to him for a change. “But I wasn’t getting any reaction. He probably thought ‘That sounds like Clarkson but it can’t be — he’s saying nice things’. “He was lying peacefully with a black eye but didn’t react so I tried something else.

“I said: ‘The reason you’re here is because you’re a c**p driver’. He then smiled at me. “It was an amazing moment, very moving.”

Richard was injured as his dragster veered out of control at around 300mph, rolled over and landed upside down at the airfield, near York.
His dad Alan said yesterday: “We’re not sure if he’s going to live or die. It is a very hard time for us. We are just hoping Richard pulls through. His children are very confused.”

Mr Hammond and wife Eileen are looking after grandchildren Isabella, five, and Willow, two, at Richard’s home in Payford, Gloucs.
His wife Amanda, 35, is by his bedside in Leeds where he was seriously ill but stable.

Yesterday it was revealed Top Gear crew members had planned a meeting with producers YESTERDAY after a recent “near miss”.
Telly industry website Broadcastnow claimed that some Top Gear crew had expressed health and safety concerns.
The BBC denied the meeting was linked to health and safety.

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He's getting better, he has been walking again.

It is a miraculous recovery for him.

Loved watching him on Brianiac and Top Gear, hope he recovers.

Yeah it seems that he will make a full recovery... It truly is amazing considering the speed he was going at...

Hope to see the Hamster back on our screens soon...

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