Re: Richard "Top Gear" Hammond Critical in Hospita
Just Rassed this from Sky News Website:
Hamster Takes First Steps
Updated: 10:32, Saturday September 23, 2006
Doctors say TV presenter Richard Hammond is making satisfactory progress following his high-speed car crash.
According to his fellow Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, he has taken his first steps in hospital since the accident.
Mr. Hammond's wife Mindy says he is on his way back to health and has thanked the public for their support and good wishes.
The 36-year-old is in a stable condition at Leeds General Infirmary where friends and family have been keeping a bedside vigil following Wednesday's accident at Elvington airfield, near York.
His wife told the Daily Mirror: "He's spoken and smiled. It's early days and what has happened hasn't really sunk in for him.
"But he's starting to look like Richard again. He's tough as hell and on his way back."
She added: "The whole family is overwhelmed by everyone's support. There have been so many flowers, cards and emails from around the world."
Clarkson, a Sun columnist, said in the newspaper: "In the wee small hours of Thursday night, just 30 hours after what is almost certainly the world's fastest ever car crash, Richard Hammond suddenly sat up in bed opened his eyes and asked what had happened."
A hospital spokesman said: "He continues to make good progress. If this continues then he will be moved from the high dependency unit to a general medical ward at some point in the next few days."
Hammond was seriously injured when the 370mph jet-powered Vampire dragster he was driving at speeds up to 300mph veered off the runway, flipped over several times and crashed on to the grass.
He was airlifted to hospital.
Police and Health and Safety Executive investigations are continuing to establish exactly what went wrong in the incident which happened during filming for the BBC2 motoring show.
The hospital said Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury". Earlier a spokesman added: "Doctors say Richard Hammond is making satisfactory progress."