Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond remains in a critical condition in hospital after surviving a 300mph car crash.
The 36-year-old was filming an attempt to break the British land speed record when his 'rocket powered dragster' overturned.
He was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary from Elvington airfield near York yesterday.
Dave Ogden, one of the first on the scene, said Hammond had been travelling at speeds close to 300mph.
The former firefighter was helping provide emergency cover at the airfield in case of an accident when he saw the crash.
"On the previous run the car had just gone over 300mph but I am not sure if it had broken the record," he said.
"They had just done one more run and were planning to finish when it veered off to the right.
A Vampire dragster
A Vampire dragster
"One of the parachutes had deployed but it went on to the grass and spun over and over before coming to a rest about 100 yards from us."
Rescuers found the car upside down and "dug in" to the grass.
Mr Ogden said he felt for a pulse and heard Hammond, who was unconscious, breathing before the car was turned right way up.
Hammond was cut free, put in a neck brace and placed on a stretcher before the air ambulance arrived.
"He was regaining consciousness at that point and said he had some lower back pain," Mr Ogden said.
"But he was drifting in and out of consciousness a little bit."
A hospital spokesman said Hammond, who is being treated in a neurological unit, was now in a "stable" condition.
The Health and Safety Executive said an inspector would visit the crash site today.
The current British land speed record is held by Colin Fallows, from Northampton, in his jet-powered dragster Vampire, which reached 300.3mph in 2000.
The 36-year-old was filming an attempt to break the British land speed record when his 'rocket powered dragster' overturned.
He was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary from Elvington airfield near York yesterday.
Dave Ogden, one of the first on the scene, said Hammond had been travelling at speeds close to 300mph.
The former firefighter was helping provide emergency cover at the airfield in case of an accident when he saw the crash.
"On the previous run the car had just gone over 300mph but I am not sure if it had broken the record," he said.
"They had just done one more run and were planning to finish when it veered off to the right.
A Vampire dragster
A Vampire dragster
"One of the parachutes had deployed but it went on to the grass and spun over and over before coming to a rest about 100 yards from us."
Rescuers found the car upside down and "dug in" to the grass.
Mr Ogden said he felt for a pulse and heard Hammond, who was unconscious, breathing before the car was turned right way up.
Hammond was cut free, put in a neck brace and placed on a stretcher before the air ambulance arrived.
"He was regaining consciousness at that point and said he had some lower back pain," Mr Ogden said.
"But he was drifting in and out of consciousness a little bit."
A hospital spokesman said Hammond, who is being treated in a neurological unit, was now in a "stable" condition.
The Health and Safety Executive said an inspector would visit the crash site today.
The current British land speed record is held by Colin Fallows, from Northampton, in his jet-powered dragster Vampire, which reached 300.3mph in 2000.
* This post has been modified
: 18 years ago
