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| Progress delights Hammond family | Progress delights Hammond family |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Top Gear host Richard Hammond is making "excellent progress" after his crash in a jet-powered car and is now on a general hospital ward, his family say. | Top Gear host Richard Hammond is making "excellent progress" after his crash in a jet-powered car and is now on a general hospital ward, his family say. |
| The 36-year-old, who suffered a brain injury during filming for the BBC show, has been joking with his wife about the amount of flowers he has been sent. | The 36-year-old, who suffered a brain injury during filming for the BBC show, has been joking with his wife about the amount of flowers he has been sent. |
| Amanda Hammond urged well-wishers to consider making a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance instead. | Amanda Hammond urged well-wishers to consider making a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance instead. |
| It came to Mr Hammond's aid following the crash on an airfield near York. | It came to Mr Hammond's aid following the crash on an airfield near York. |
| A group of motoring enthusiasts has already raised more than £130,000 for the charity - helped by a single donor who pledged £50,000 - after setting up a web page for contributions. | |
| Scene of Richard Hammond's crash at Elvington airfieldEnlarge Image | Scene of Richard Hammond's crash at Elvington airfieldEnlarge Image |
| Meanwhile, the BBC said it had started an investigation into Wednesday's accident, which happened at Elvington airfield while Mr Hammond was driving at speeds of up to 300mph. | |
| It also confirmed the final part of the Best of Top Gear had been postponed indefinitely and the new series, due to begin on 8 October, will be delayed. | It also confirmed the final part of the Best of Top Gear had been postponed indefinitely and the new series, due to begin on 8 October, will be delayed. |
| The BBC added: "We would like to express our thanks to the 40,000 people who have sent goodwill messages about Richard." | The BBC added: "We would like to express our thanks to the 40,000 people who have sent goodwill messages about Richard." |
| It said the messages were being passed on and would be a "terrific boost" for the presenter. | It said the messages were being passed on and would be a "terrific boost" for the presenter. |
| Mrs Hammond said the family had been overwhelmed by the flowers and messages of support received from well-wishers since her husband suffered what doctors say was a significant brain injury. | Mrs Hammond said the family had been overwhelmed by the flowers and messages of support received from well-wishers since her husband suffered what doctors say was a significant brain injury. |
| Vampire | Vampire |
| But she added: "However, Richard is now beginning to worry that [co-presenters] Jeremy [Clarkson] and James [May] will start taking the mickey, so it would be great if - instead of flowers - people could make a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. | But she added: "However, Richard is now beginning to worry that [co-presenters] Jeremy [Clarkson] and James [May] will start taking the mickey, so it would be great if - instead of flowers - people could make a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. |
| "The service is entirely funded by charitable donations and there's little doubt in my mind that without it, Richard would not be making the excellent progress he is." | "The service is entirely funded by charitable donations and there's little doubt in my mind that without it, Richard would not be making the excellent progress he is." |
| Mr Hammond's condition is described as stable by doctors at Leeds General Infirmary. | Mr Hammond's condition is described as stable by doctors at Leeds General Infirmary. |
| Top Gear co-presenter Mr Clarkson, a Sun columnist, said in the paper on Saturday that the father-of-two had got to his feet and walked "shakily" to the toilet during the early hours of Friday - just 30 hours after the crash. | Top Gear co-presenter Mr Clarkson, a Sun columnist, said in the paper on Saturday that the father-of-two had got to his feet and walked "shakily" to the toilet during the early hours of Friday - just 30 hours after the crash. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Can't wait to see Richard back on the telly - Top Gear just wouldn't be the same without him Lisa, Halstead, Essex Send us your messages | HAVE YOUR SAY Can't wait to see Richard back on the telly - Top Gear just wouldn't be the same without him Lisa, Halstead, Essex Send us your messages |
| Mr Hammond had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3 mph. | Mr Hammond had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3 mph. |
| Mr Hammond, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, had to be cut free after the car "veered off to the right" and its parachutes opened during the drive. | Mr Hammond, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, had to be cut free after the car "veered off to the right" and its parachutes opened during the drive. |
| Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which supplied the car and a support team for the event, said the vehicle "had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards". | Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which supplied the car and a support team for the event, said the vehicle "had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards". |