Friday 22nd September 2006

Hamster crash prompts huge response

Air ambulance charity benefits from petrolhead generosity

---

Richard Hammond

The response of PHers has been amazing in the wake of Richard Hammond's horrendous 300mph accident at Elvington.

PHers and petrolheads from all over the web have donated tens of thousands to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity, which airlifted the stricken Top Gear presenter from the scene of his horrendous 300mph crash at Elvington to the Leeds General Infirmary.

Initiator of the donation Alex Goss said: "This huge level of response has gone way past initial expectations and has paid for over 45 flights of the helicopter. My aim now is to pay for 75 flights of this essential service".

Jeremy Clarkson is reported to have said, after a visit to Hammond's bedside: "He was lying peacefully with a black eye but didn't react so I tried something else. I said, 'The reason you're here is because you're a crap driver'. He then smiled at me. It was an amazing moment, very moving."

Although Top Gear favourite Hammond suffered "significant brain injury", doctors say that they are reasonably optimistic about his chances of recovery. He's been conscious at least twice since the accident, which doctors said was a good sign. There are no visible signs of injury apart from a black eye, reports the BBC. He was trying to beat the 300.3mph British land speed record set by the Vampire, driven by Colin Fallows, in a jet-powered dragster at Elvington.

Everyone at PistonHeads wishes Richard a full and speedy recovery -- don't give up mate, and keep that petrol flowing...

• To donate, follow this link: www.justgiving.com/PHRichardHammond

PS: We are in touch with Leeds General Infirmary, and we'll be bringing you news as it arrives.

^{Picture courtesy Sky One}

[beanbag]

Almost 31k now! Well done everyone. It's a fantastic effort by everyone and shows that when people get together, a big difference can be made.

It was really moving to know that people care so much. If the page is on until the 21st Jan, maybe even 100k is possible!

A big thank you to Tallbloke for setting up the charity and Ted for making PH a reality.

Thank you and well done to all.

[FortJefferson]

JC said:

Jeremy Clarkson is reported to have said, after a visit to Hammond's bedside: "He was lying peacefully with a black eye but didn't react so I tried something else. I said, 'The reason you're here is because you're a crap driver'. He then smiled at me. It was an amazing moment, very moving."

This has just bought a tear to my eye.

[GTRene]

FortJefferson said:

JC said:

Jeremy Clarkson is reported to have said, after a visit to Hammond's bedside: "He was lying peacefully with a black eye but didn't react so I tried something else. I said, 'The reason you're here is because you're a crap driver'. He then smiled at me. It was an amazing moment, very moving."

This has just bought a tear to my eye.

yep me too, a real Top Gear moment...
GTRene

[*J*]

Heya I just want to say its amazing what you guys are doing and I'll be donated £20 when i find my debit card. My family would like to send Richard a card and some flowers I read on another board someone did it but i'm not sure if it was the truth or not. If you're allowed to would you just address it to Leeds Hospital and put Richard name on them?

[cross-eyed-twit]

flowers probably not a good idea in a Hospital. I -think- they're banned ...???

thought that counts tho

[Sonic Nonsense]

*J* said:

Heya I just want to say its amazing what you guys are doing and I'll be donated £20 when i find my debit card. My family would like to send Richard a card and some flowers I read on another board someone did it but i'm not sure if it was the truth or not. If you're allowed to would you just address it to Leeds Hospital and put Richard name on them?

Tempted to say he's probably going to have plenty of flowers. Perhaps the flower money would be better spent going to the helecopter chaity. Of course, totally up to you though, mate.

[*J*]

You're right thats what i'm going to do just use it for the charity will go out later with the wife to get a card.

[lathamjohnp]

Clarkson said:

He was lying peacefully with a black eye...

"That'll buff out".

John
(feeling a bit more comfortable with humour now that the hamster's out of IC)

[gbbird]

lathamjohnp said:

Clarkson said:

He was lying peacefully with a black eye...

"That'll buff out".

John
(feeling a bit more comfortable with humour now that the hamster's out of IC)

He is not out of IC yet, but in between. Still in a serious condition i think

Edited by gbbird on Friday 22 September 12:02

[VladD]

lathamjohnp said:

"That'll buff out".

Genius.

[PJR]

cross-eyed-twit said:

flowers probably not a good idea in a Hospital. I -think- they're banned ...???

thought that counts tho

Not banned as such. But not allowed in the intensive care units. However, Hammond isn't in intensive care now.

While im here, I wish the original topic had been allowed to stay in this forum instead of being moved.
Also, the donations were set up by a PH user, but the money has come from more than just PH readers, its come from all over the place now..
Great effort by all who chipped in though And its nice to hear that Richard appears to be making a recovery.

Cheers, P

[CommanderJameson]

JC said:

Jeremy Clarkson is reported to have said, after a visit to Hammond's bedside: "He was lying peacefully with a black eye but didn't react so I tried something else. I said, 'The reason you're here is because you're a crap driver'. He then smiled at me. It was an amazing moment, very moving."

I must say, the temptation to add "just like the car he was in" at the end of that sentence would have been too much for me to resist.

(Before the PH Bad Taste Massive gets me, I would like to point out that I caused a laugh at my father's bedside 10 minutes before he died when I clipped the bed controls, raising his feet by approximately 3 feet. If you can't laugh, you can't live. Besides, he'd have done the same to me.)

[ruckus]

Vote for this story on Reddit.com help get the appeal more coverage.

[killer2005]

Well done everyone Really want todonate now but have no spare cash until the end of the month

[rumplestiltskin]

Just been watching the lunchtime news - £40k raised they said by the "on line car enthusiasts website PistonHeads" !!

Nice one !

R.

[sprinter885]

Tremendous everyone. Sounds like the Lil' Hamster's picking up at least a bit. He's a great counterpoint to JC's "forward" nature & JM's British reserve & all 3 of them deserve to work together for a long time.I'll look forward to seeing RH's Tiny Sheath back on TG- sorry should that be Shiny Teeth??

[riyazc]

I'm mightily impressed with the way people have responded to the cause - and im sure the Hamster will be as well when he is back.

Nice to see the power of the internet at its best.

[danmangt40]

yes, yes, but how are the TEETH?! the teeth, man!

[flamespitter]

Just been talking to an ITV News film crew outside Leeds General Infirmary.They're keeping a near vigil outside the hospital and confirmed that much of the Nation have taken Richard to heart and are very anxious for his recovery.Let's all pray for him.

[scoobybloke]

It's a fantastic effort. We've linked to it from Scoobynet and I've seen numerous other car sites doing the same