Richard Hammond Marks 20 Years Since Near-Fatal Top Gear Crash

Richard Hammond has marked the 20th anniversary of his near-fatal car crash during a Top Gear filming in 2006. In a reflective social media post on Sunday, the presenter, then 56, thanked the emergency services and medical personnel who were instrumental in saving his life.

Hammond was hospitalized after a high-speed crash in a Vampire Dragster at York's Elvington airfield. The incident occurred when a tire blew on the jet-powered dragster as he was traveling at speeds exceeding 300 miles per hour. The vehicle spun out of control, flipped upside down, and left Hammond with severe head injuries. He was placed in a coma for several weeks as his brain swelled.

Recalling the moments before the crash, Hammond stated on Instagram that he had concluded his "To Do list was to die." He described a sense of calm rather than fear in those final seconds before impact, accepting what he believed would be the inevitable outcome. He noted that he did not scream and that the experience was not frightening, but rather a realization that his fate was sealed.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Hammond survived the crash and managed to exit the wreckage, though he has no memory of the event itself. He was unaware of the media attention the crash garnered, having been in a coma and experiencing only a two-minute memory upon waking.

Hammond specifically credited the individuals who rescued him from the crashed vehicle, transported him to the hospital, and provided his care. He emphasized that his subsequent life, including his career achievements and family, would not have been possible without their intervention on that day. His daughter Izzy commented on the post, expressing relief that her father had survived.

In previous reflections, Hammond has spoken about experiencing "survivor's guilt," not due to others dying, but from questioning whether his actions had put his life at risk and endangered his family. He recalled initiating the idea for the stunt, telling Top Gear producer Andy Wilman that he wanted to go "real f***ing fast." He later found reassurance from telemetry data that confirmed he had done everything possible to avert the accident and that the tire failure was the cause.

Reflecting on the crash, he described a feeling of immense calm and acceptance. He has stated that the experience ultimately left him without a fear of death, attributing this to a "freeze" response that can occur when one realizes there is nothing that can be done to change the situation. Hammond shares daughters Izzy and Willow with his ex-wife Mindy and is currently in a relationship with therapist Kiki Glen.