Ex-Top Gear star Richard Hammond injured in serious car crash

Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond has been airlifted to hospital after escaping a serious car crash.

The presenter was involved in the accident at a Swiss mountain race while filming for his TV show.

The 47-year-old suffered a fractured knee while racing an electric super car, but was not seriously injured.

Hammond's friend and fellow presenter Jeremy Clarkson described it as the "biggest" and "most frightening" crash he had ever seen, adding in a Twitter post: "Thankfully, Richard seems to be mostly OK."

A spokesperson for The Grand Tour said: "Richard was conscious and talking, and climbed out of the car himself before the vehicle burst into flames.

"He was flown by air ambulance to hospital in St Gallen to be checked over - revealing a fracture to his knee.

"Nobody else was in the car or involved in the accident, and we'd like to thank the paramedics on site for their swift response.

"The cause of the crash is unknown and is being investigated."

Hammond was racing a Rimac Concept One car, built in Croatia, during the Hemburg Hill Climb.

It was filmed as part of the second series of The Grand Tour, the Amazon Prime programme that Hammond, Clarkson and James May joined after leaving the BBC's Top Gear in 2015.

According to the car manufacturer's website, the Concept One can reach a maximum speed of 220mph thanks to its 1,224 horsepower.

The Hemburg Hill Climb takes place over a one mile-long course, which climbs 157m (515ft).

Contestants average speeds of more than 70mph.

In 2006, Hammond suffered brain injuries after crashing a jet-propelled car while travelling at close to 300mph.

The horror accident left him in intensive care, where he was in a coma for two weeks.

Hammond had been behind the wheel of a Vampire dragster that had previously broken the British land speed record.

Last month, Hammond revealed he is now more cautious about what car stunts he is willing to film.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I've a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. I'm not going to risk leaving them.

"Not for their sake, but for mine."

(SKY NEWS)