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| TV host 'followed safety rules' | TV host 'followed safety rules' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was observing the highest safety standards before the jet-powered car he was driving crashed, event organisers say. | Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was observing the highest safety standards before the jet-powered car he was driving crashed, event organisers say. |
| Primetime Land Speed Engineering also denied reports that Hammond was trying to break the British land speed record. | Primetime Land Speed Engineering also denied reports that Hammond was trying to break the British land speed record. |
| The 36-year-old, seriously ill in a Leeds hospital, was filming for the BBC and is thought to have been driving at up to 300mph when he crashed. | The 36-year-old, seriously ill in a Leeds hospital, was filming for the BBC and is thought to have been driving at up to 300mph when he crashed. |
| The BBC, which has begun an inquiry, is likely to face close scrutiny. | The BBC, which has begun an inquiry, is likely to face close scrutiny. |
| The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the police will jointly investigate the accident. | |
| Hammond's close family were at his bedside in the Leeds General Infirmary - and he was also visited by Top Gear co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May. | Hammond's close family were at his bedside in the Leeds General Infirmary - and he was also visited by Top Gear co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May. |
| Vampire | Vampire |
| Clarkson said in a statement that many motorists were rooting for Hammond, adding that he and his family were "the most important concerns we have". | Clarkson said in a statement that many motorists were rooting for Hammond, adding that he and his family were "the most important concerns we have". |
| Referring to Hammond by his nickname, Clarkson said: "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our 'hamster' back." | Referring to Hammond by his nickname, Clarkson said: "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our 'hamster' back." |
| Hammond's condition, which was described as serious but stable, had improved overnight, according to a hospital spokeswoman. | Hammond's condition, which was described as serious but stable, had improved overnight, according to a hospital spokeswoman. |
| The presenter had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire - used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3mph. | The presenter had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire - used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3mph. |
| A spokesman for Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which is jointly run by Fallows, said the company was "deeply shocked" by the accident. | A spokesman for Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which is jointly run by Fallows, said the company was "deeply shocked" by the accident. |
| "The vehicle, which Richard Hammond was driving all day yesterday, had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards," said spokesman Malcolm Pittwood. | "The vehicle, which Richard Hammond was driving all day yesterday, had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards," said spokesman Malcolm Pittwood. |
| "Standards which we have maintained for many years in the safe operation of such vehicles."Hammond was thought to have been driving about 300mph | "Standards which we have maintained for many years in the safe operation of such vehicles."Hammond was thought to have been driving about 300mph |
| Keith King, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said it was a "very unusual case" and they would be working with North Yorkshire Police. | |
| He said the executive would look at the preparation and planning of the event and contingencies for an emergency. | |
| Meanwhile, Supt Martin Deacon said his officers would initially focus on the road and the vehicle. | |
| He refused to speculate on the cause of the crash, saying he would have expected organisers to carry out safety precautions and a full-risk assessment. | |
| 'Speed obsession' | |
| The BBC said in a statement that it had begun an investigation into the accident and promised full co-operation with the HSE. | The BBC said in a statement that it had begun an investigation into the accident and promised full co-operation with the HSE. |
| "We continue to be concerned about [Hammond's] condition and we are keeping in touch with his family," the statement said. | "We continue to be concerned about [Hammond's] condition and we are keeping in touch with his family," the statement said. |
| Top Gear has courted controversy in the past over its big-budget car stunts, and in 1999 a group of MPs criticised the series for being "obsessed with acceleration and speed". | Top Gear has courted controversy in the past over its big-budget car stunts, and in 1999 a group of MPs criticised the series for being "obsessed with acceleration and speed". |
| Last year, lobby group Transport 2000 called for the show to be taken off the air accusing it of "glamorising speed and failing to make the connection with danger on the roads". | Last year, lobby group Transport 2000 called for the show to be taken off the air accusing it of "glamorising speed and failing to make the connection with danger on the roads". |
| At the time, Hammond defended the programme, saying: "Top Gear is an entertaining show, for people that are interested in cars, that is driven by people who have been motoring journalists for many, many years." | At the time, Hammond defended the programme, saying: "Top Gear is an entertaining show, for people that are interested in cars, that is driven by people who have been motoring journalists for many, many years." |
| The audience and the TV producers want you as a presenter to be there, on the inside Steve Berry Former Top Gear presenter Send us your comments Top Gear's chequered past | The audience and the TV producers want you as a presenter to be there, on the inside Steve Berry Former Top Gear presenter Send us your comments Top Gear's chequered past |
| Hammond had to be cut free from the car on Wednesday evening after eyewitnesses at the Elvington airfield near York described how he "veered off to the right" and the car's parachutes were deployed. | Hammond had to be cut free from the car on Wednesday evening after eyewitnesses at the Elvington airfield near York described how he "veered off to the right" and the car's parachutes were deployed. |
| He was initially reported to have suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the neurological unit of hospital by helicopter. | He was initially reported to have suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the neurological unit of hospital by helicopter. |
| A website set up for well-wishers to make donations to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which airlifted Hammond to hospital, has so far raised more than £4,000. | |
| Steve Berry, one of Top Gear's former presenters, said the show had changed over the years. | Steve Berry, one of Top Gear's former presenters, said the show had changed over the years. |
| In the past, he said audiences would have been happy to see the presenter interviewing the driver. | In the past, he said audiences would have been happy to see the presenter interviewing the driver. |
| "That's not any good anymore... the audience and the TV producers want you as a presenter to be there, on the inside." | "That's not any good anymore... the audience and the TV producers want you as a presenter to be there, on the inside." |