Watching my crash
Posted by Richard Hammond at 9:00PM on Sunday 28 January, 2007 35 Comments
Well, that's it - I'm finally back to work.
To be honest, it felt like I'd never really left the Top Gear studio, even though it's been months since me and the guys last wandered in and arsed about.
Now that we've spoken about it on the programme and shown the footage, maybe this crash business will start to fade into the distance.
The doctors had been nervous about me seeing it for the first time on video. I figured that if it couldn't kill me when I was in it for real, how could it hurt watching it on the telly?
Some people wondered if we should really be showing it on Top Gear. And I understood their concerns; it's a sensitive issue, not least for me. But I think it would be irresponsible of us not to show it.
We can't pretend it didn't happen - that we can hoon about all over Europe in supercars and punt jet-propelled dragsters up runways at 300mph without things going wrong.
That's how it is in the world; things go wrong. And if I've learned one thing, it's that they can go wrong at the worst possible moment.
I figure that if just one individual scorching round the back roads in their hot hatch remembers seeing me upside down at 230mph and thinks that yes, if things can go that badly wrong in Top Gear's TV fantasy world then they could in the real world, and they lift off because there might just be a tractor coming round that blind corner at the worst possible moment, then it's all been worth it.
We can all learn a lesson, my kids have still got their dad and the show can go on.
See you out there.
Watch our exclusive step-by-step reconstruction of Richard's accident
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35 Comments for "Watching my crash"
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It was terrifying and morbidly fascinating at the same time - seeing the actual footage just shows exactly what's been in our imaginations these last months. You are incredibly lucky, and we are so unbelievably happy to have you back! Hamster the hero!
That was the most incredible thing i have seen on TV! Richard's face went white as a sheet as he saw the car crash at 288mph. You have to be one the most brave people I seen, and what a recovery. Good to see Top Gear is back to its usual self.
So happy for everything to be back to normal - Jezza's right - it's fantastic to have you back Hamster.
Richard, having just seen the crash on the brillant new episode of Top Gear, I just have to tell you, that you are one brave man. We all heard about it, but cannot really appreciate it until you actually see what happened. I am so glad that you are fit and back at work. All the best for the new year, and best wishes for you and your family. You are an absolute champ, and the show would not have been the same without you.
Your crash footage has to be the scariest thing I've ever seen Hammond. It's great to see you back and very much alive!
I'm just glad to see that you are back and hopefully we can all learn something from this and then maybe something positive will come out of it all. Take care of yourself.
Well thats a hell of a way to show the racers round this country why they should respect their cars. I think you are very brave showing the video and angelically humble. So glad you are back on Top Gear, it wouldn't be the same without you.
Watching that crash footage made me shake - it was bloody scary! You're so brave Richard, and I would just like to say well done for a brilliant start to the new series of the show. It's been the best moment of the year, keep it up!
My god it's good to have you back. at first i may say i'm from Denmark and haven't seen the crash video yet, but the 3d animation looks pretty scary. I can't wait to the new season comes on BBC World or the Danish tv. As i said, it's really good seeing you back on tv Hamster. i'm just happy to have 'my' Hamster back. i'll hopefully see you some time in the future.
Hi Richard,totally in awe of what you were achieving, and can fully understand wanting to do the 3rd run , my god what a lucky guy to come out of that and be able to do tonights show.
40 of us crammed round the telly at uni to watch it in silence. It was still a shock even though we knew what was going to happen. Great that you are back and well!
Well at least there was a really positive side to your unfortunate accident. The yorkshire air ambulance have raised enough cash through donations from fans,they will soon have another helicopter that will surely save a lot of lives. That must make you really proud.
I agree on your comments regarding the showing of the video. The one thing we can be thankful for is that your still here to tell the story and I hope it fades into the distance so you can carry on doing what you do best. Entertaining us all. I'm sure there are many of us out here that admire your courage and even JC (in his own way) is humbled! Keep up the good work !
Welcome back Richard and the whole of the Top Gear team. Watching that made me feel sick thinking about how close we came to losing you so goodness knows how you felt watching it over and over again. May the show go on but please stay safe...we love you hamster!
Welcome back Richard! You were sorely missed, as was Top Gear. Delighted to see that Jeremy was actually nice to you, if even for only a second. If Clarkson gives you any grief in future, you can always remind him that you have the reactions of a fighter pilot - unlike him, with his arthritic hip and powerslide-broken spine...
Hats off to you - that was quite something to watch, Even though I knew you were fine, I still wanted to hide behind my cushion on my sofa! Its great to see you back to work and just the same as always.
I think that Richard must be a pretty amazing guy to have survived that crash. His story is an inspiration and a warning aswell and certainly one that wont be forgotten for a long time. It just shows that anything can go wrong even with all the best experts around. Everyone who helped Richard survive should deserve a medal because they do that for there job every day of there lives.
Howled my eyes out watching that, Richard. I'm SO glad you made it through, and that your kids still have their Dad. I shall drive to work a wee bit slower from now on...
Scary... very scary. You could have heard a pin drop in my living room!
one word: speechless.
wow, I'm in total shock after watching the crash footage. All I can say is you're like that Toyota pickup truck, indestructible! It is great and very moving to see you back on the telly! Sundays are back!
We sat and watched it, the whole family and everyone was in silence. It was spectacular but very real that your life could have been taken at that moment. Luckily for you and your family, not forgetting the TV watchers like me also you wernt. Rest and enjoy your life from here on more so than before.
Hamster, you are totally right about it being worth it even if it stops just one person - as brave and talented as you are, everyone knows just how lucky you were, and I hope people now see that if things can go wrong in front of the cameras, they can go wrong in the real world. You are, and forever will be, a true legend.
Richard - Thank you for being such a brave little soul talking about this. We all can tell it affected you deeply and going on the show and talking through it must've been really hard. Its good to show it on the TV because then everyone understands what happened and maybe, as you said, it'll fade into the distance. Its a good message to everyone that, although not everyone with a driving license will ever drive a jet car, speeding is a dangerous thing.
First off, welcome back, it's good to see you back to business. Having finally seen that crash it has cemented in my mind that that was a freak accident, something that nobody, not even Mystic Meg could have predicted. I am also very relieved to see that Top Gear hasn't changed, and hope that it never does. Hope to see you back behind the wheel on TG very soon
Hardly anyone has anything to say after watching that crash. Speechless. It's a miricle you survived, very glad to see you back. We were all worried for you. The fact that you put a bright side to it in the blog (which was a good point) just shows your determination. Great to see you back Hamster!
Thanks Richard for letting us see this; it can't have been an easy decision. But, as you say, if it makes just one person think "Yes, it could happen to me", then good has been done.
Richard, three things stand out after just watching the whole jet car event on TG.
1. You are outstandingly brave.
2. You are outstandingly lucky.
3. You made the right decision letting the whole thing be shown on TG.
I once lost a front tyre on a race car with 1.3% of the horsepower you had at your disposal. That was pretty damn terrifying at the time. What you went through leaves me lost for words.
Welcome back to where you belong!
Well done with handling the whole situation you brave little Hamster. Enjoy the show, the family, and your new love of celery. Can't tell you how glad I am to see you up and about. The week of the accident I felt like a close family member was in hospital, and spent every posssible moment getting updates on top gear and bbc websites.oom!
There was total silence in our house as we watched the crash. How brave of you to be able to watch it, and be able to joke about the crash. Glad to have you back, and we won't mention the crash either...
Delighted that you are back and safe. Very brave man. I'm also delighted to learn how I might get over my hatred of the evil celery- now where can I get a jet engine for my mini?
Having Top Gear back was the best birthday present I could have wished for! Moving, terrifying and riveting. Keep up the good work.
I think it's very brave of you to sit there and watch that video. Speaking from my own experience, I'd find it incredibly difficult to watch footage of what I went through. Thank you for showing it though because hopefully it'll send out a few shockwaves and encourage people to take care on the road, not necessarily just to slow down. It's great to have you back, the beginning of the programme did not look right with just the two of them!
Me and my friend had to hold hands as we watched it! I still found it quite nervewracking to see, we'd all imagined it but seeing it was a shock. I'm just so glad you were ok, you are very lucky. Just goes to show presenting Top Gear is what you were born to do!
I watched it last night and it's surprising how much time seems to slow down when things go wrong and how fast it seems when it goes right (like the firstst two runs). I also thought how prophetic that Richard was made to put on those arm restraints...