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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Very good progress' for Hammond | 'Very good progress' for Hammond |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is making "very good progress" as he recovers from a crash in a jet-powered car on an airfield near York. | Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is making "very good progress" as he recovers from a crash in a jet-powered car on an airfield near York. |
| A spokesman said if Mr Hammond continued to do well he would eventually be transferred to a hospital closer to his home outside Cheltenham. | A spokesman said if Mr Hammond continued to do well he would eventually be transferred to a hospital closer to his home outside Cheltenham. |
| He has also received "hundreds" of cards and flowers, which have been placed in a separate room. | He has also received "hundreds" of cards and flowers, which have been placed in a separate room. |
| Donations to the air ambulance which flew him to hospital stand at £188,000. | Donations to the air ambulance which flew him to hospital stand at £188,000. |
| The appeal to raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is supported by Mr Hammond's family. | |
| A group of motoring enthusiasts has set up a web page for contributions on behalf of Mr Hammond, whose nickname is "Hamster". | A group of motoring enthusiasts has set up a web page for contributions on behalf of Mr Hammond, whose nickname is "Hamster". |
| Mr Hammond, 36, is receiving treatment for a brain injury on a general ward at Leeds General Infirmary following his crash during filming for the BBC show. | Mr Hammond, 36, is receiving treatment for a brain injury on a general ward at Leeds General Infirmary following his crash during filming for the BBC show. |
| Vampire | Vampire |
| Among those who have donated is comedian Freddie Starr, whose agent said he gave an undisclosed sum to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance "for his own personal reasons". | Among those who have donated is comedian Freddie Starr, whose agent said he gave an undisclosed sum to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance "for his own personal reasons". |
| The 62-year-old told the Sun newspaper: "I have a helicopter's pilot licence so it is something I feel very strongly about. | The 62-year-old told the Sun newspaper: "I have a helicopter's pilot licence so it is something I feel very strongly about. |
| "These guys and girls do an amazing job and it costs a lot of money. Hopefully, my donation can help people in real danger like Richard." | "These guys and girls do an amazing job and it costs a lot of money. Hopefully, my donation can help people in real danger like Richard." |
| All the money raised so far has "brought forward" plans to buy a new, second helicopter, Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity chief executive Martin Eede said. | All the money raised so far has "brought forward" plans to buy a new, second helicopter, Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity chief executive Martin Eede said. |
| "In over 25 years in the voluntary sector I have never known anything like this - we are completely overwhelmed, grateful, thankful," he told BBC News. | "In over 25 years in the voluntary sector I have never known anything like this - we are completely overwhelmed, grateful, thankful," he told BBC News. |
| The BBC has said it has started an investigation into the accident, which happened at Elvington airfield while Mr Hammond was driving at speeds of up to 300mph. | The BBC has said it has started an investigation into the 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, would 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, would be delayed. |
| Mrs Hammond said the family had been overwhelmed by the flowers and messages of support received from well-wishers. | Mrs Hammond said the family had been overwhelmed by the flowers and messages of support received from well-wishers. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY That's the spirit Richard! Keep up the good recovery Brett, Middlesbrough Send us your messages | HAVE YOUR SAY That's the spirit Richard! Keep up the good recovery Brett, Middlesbrough Send us your messages |
| 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 is 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 is little doubt in my mind that without it, Richard would not be making the excellent progress he is." |
| 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". |