Top Gear presenter in serious crash

Richard Hammond (right) of the Top Gear television programme, was involved in the serious accident.

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car while filming for the British television programme.

The 36-year-old presenter was taken by air ambulance to a hospital in Leeds which has a special neurological unit.

Hammond was reported to be travelling at around 450 kilometres an hour while attempting to break a land-speed record.

He had been filming at a former Royal Air Force base.

Hammond was unconscious when paramedics arrived at the scene, but reportedly regained consciousness at the hospital.

The BBC website is today reporting that the accident happened on what was to be the day's last attempt at a land speed record.

A former firefighter who was one of the first on the scene of the crash, said "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.

The rescuer told BBC that 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."

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, said the BBC website.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZHERALD STAFF