Richard Hammond

The popular television presenter Richard Hammond has been involved in a near fatal accident whilst driving a jet powered car.

In the same vain as Steve Irwin, Hammond is a popular and likeable man with a family and thus tributes have been flooding in to the BBC for him. I like Richard Hammond, he's a congenial and affable character. I have watched and enjoyed most of the different programs he has hosted. He has the rare ability to laugh at and belittle himself for the audiences enjoyment.

However.

Let's not lose sight of what he was up to at the time.... driving a jet powered car....at 300 mph.

Jet engines are not designed for use in cars. The one in question being designed for use in a 1950's light attack aircraft. Car's are not generally designed for use with jet engines, being predominantly ground dwelling vehicles. Richard Hammond (and I'm assuming here most other humans) was not designed to stop suddenly at 300mph.

There are the facts. Whilst I have the utmost sympathy for the man and his family, it doesn't take a fucking genius to work out that it was...shall we say...a bit silly to be there in the first place.

As with Steve Irwin, who by the way I liked a lot, Hammond was out of his realm. If a Stingray was wandering into Irwin's his garden, he'd have been more than justified to kill it, especially if it was interfering with his barbecue or his kids swing. He strayed into the Stingray's realm, probably poked it with a stick, and well, the rest is history. Hammond was in a realm in which his vehicle should have been fitted with wings and a means of flight control, and, well....we'll see.

I hope he lives, then he can do it again, live on TV this time.