Bigpower

Just seen this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nort ... 365676.stm

Sounds pretty bad !!

"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."

sad news, he seemed like a nice fella

We can only hope and pray he,ll be ok. Top Gear would not be the same without him.


Dave

shocked and hope he pulls through

it is sad news hes funny little chap ...

Shocking news!

Awful news, heard it last night - kinda of expected the worse today - stable now but with serious head injuries.

I really think he is a great guy ... hope he makes it.

Heard about it 1st thing this morning - fingers crossed for him.

BBC said that he regained consciousness briefly last night and his condition has improved overnight so that can only be a good sign.

Top Gear wouldn't be the same without him.

JC

Update
(Info taken from the Guardians site)

"Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury" after the 370mph jet-powered car he was driving crashed on an airfield, doctors said.

The 36-year-old is in a serious but stable condition at Leeds General Infirmary, where friends and family are keeping a bedside vigil following Wednesday's accident at Elvington airfield near York.

His father expressed fears about the injuries he received when the record-breaking Vampire dragster veered off the runway, flipped over several times and crashed on to grass. Alan Hammond, who is looking after his son's daughters Willow, two, and Isabella, five, in Gloucestershire, said the family was unsure if the presenter would live or die.

"It is a very hard time for both me and my wife. We are just hoping that Richard pulls through. At the moment we are not sure if he is going to live or die. His children are very confused," he told the Evening Standard.

But Richard's brother, speaking to reporters at the hospital in Leeds, was more upbeat. He said: "He's making a bit of good progress. Both his brothers are here and his wife. The doctors are very pleased."

Can't help reading that and feeling a sense of perspective.