News In Briefs

Hammond Getting Better

Richard Hammond, the Top Gear presenter, has continued to make a remarkable recovery from his 300mph dragster crash, and was yesterday well enough to be cared for in a general ward and share jokes with his family and friends.
Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury" in last week's accident but, after spells in intensive care and a high dependency unit, was moved to the side room of a general ward at the weekend. A spokesman for Leeds general infirmary said last night: "He is continuing to make good progress. He is doing well."
Meanwhile, Hammond's co-presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, launched a scathing attack on investigators looking into the crash, and commentators who have suggested the macho, speed-loving BBC2 motoring show ought to be toned down.
Clarkson claimed: "Swarms of bureaucratic bluebottles are nibbling away at the crash site, desperately trying to find some reason Top Gear should be banished from the screens." Writing in the Sunday Times, he added: "Contrary to reports that he was put there [in the dragster] by ratings-hungry producers, it was his idea. He wanted to know what it would be like to go really fast ... He needs that thrill as passionately as a heroin addict needs his next fix."
According to Clarkson, the crash, on Wednesday, was probably caused by a burst tyre. "Who was to blame? Nobody."
The BBC said it was too early to say when the new series of Top Gear, which was due to begin on October 8, would now start. Meanwhile, more than 40,000 people have wished Hammond well and, by last night, £140,000 had been donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which ferried him to hospital.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1880086,00.html

posted by Steve @ Monday, September 25, 2006