Hammond hosting party for horror crash medical staff

'Top Gear' presenter Richard Hammond is inviting the doctors, nurses and air ambulance staff who saved his life after a near-300mph crash to a party tonight.

The 37-year-old is holding a book signing event in Covent Garden, London, and has invited the staff along to thank them.

Nursing staff from intensive care, the neurosurgery ward and accident & emergency, as well as an A&E consultant from Leeds General Infirmary, are going to the Hospital Club in Covent Garden.

Elaine Andrews, the Matron responsible for neurosciences, is among those going to the event.

"Richard's accident and the huge level of interest it prompted in the care we provided for him at Leeds General Infirmary is something all the staff involved here remember very well indeed," she said.

"It will be interesting to meet him again and see him fully recovered. We are hoping to maintain a link between Richard and the hospital in the months and years to come."

Yorkshire Air Ambulance also confirmed that some of their staff would be attending the party which comes 14 months after Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury" in a 288mph dragster crash.

Hammond, nicknamed 'The Hamster' by 'Top Gear' colleagues James May and Jeremy Clarkson, was filming for the BBC2 show at Elvington airfield, near York, when the accident happened.

His 370mph jet-powered Vampire dragster veered off the runway, flipped over several times and crashed on to grass.

He had to be airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary where he stayed for five weeks.

After the crash, 'Top Gear' fans donated thousands of pounds to help fund a new helicopter for Yorkshire's Air Ambulance service.