A TOP Gear legend has hit out at TV bosses over their risky show stunts after the news that the programme will be axed.
Richard Hammond, 53, hosted Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May during its heyday and experienced his own serious crashes on camera.
And he has opened up about an awful crash he experienced back in 2006 which nearly killed him.
The motoring expert was speeding down a Yorkshire airfield on the programme at 288mph in a jet-powered Vampire dragster when a tyre burst.
He had to be rushed to the hospital and was in a coma for two weeks after the terrifying accident.
In another Top Gear accident In 2017, he also cheated death when he lost control of a Rimac Concept One supercar worth £2m in Switzerland.
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The car burst into flames moments after he managed to clamber out in an accident which co-host and Sun columnist Clarkson described as "the most frightening" crash he had seen.
In the wake of Freddie Flintoff's terrifying smash, where his vehicle flipped over and left him with horrific facial injuries, Richard told the Daily Mail that TV executives need to be more careful when planning stunts.
"Television makers have to be aware that you’re not in some special bubble just because you’re making a TV show, and things can and do go wrong. Just like when my tyre blew at that speed – it’s going to be bad," he grimaced.
"But what are you going to do? Track it back to the person who tapped the rubber? Something went wrong and things do go wrong."
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He also shared his thoughts on the future of the show, saying: "I don’t know if Top Gear will come back. It’s up to the BBC – often they will rest a brand. My connection with Top Gear was that I watched it as a kid and loved it. Then I was lucky enough to be involved in making our version, and I’m sure there will be other versions in the future."
Top Gear insiders have shared with the Sun that there is "no way" the show can continue after Freddie's crash.
They said: "The BBC are aware they very nearly lost a presenter’s life while filming a segment, and there’s a feeling it would be in bad taste to continue making such dangerous material.
"It’s a tough decision but they know deep down it’s the right one as hardcore fans of the show won’t want to see a lightweight version."
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