Richard Hammond doesn’t think ‘it would make much of a difference’ if he died as he reflects on crash

Richard Hammond nearly died after crashing a car 15 years ago (Picture: Rex)

Richard Hammond reckons it wouldn’t have made much difference if he’d died in his near-fatal car crash in 2006.

The Grand Tour presenter has been in several accidents throughout his career, however the most serious of which took place 15 years ago and almost cost him his life.

The 51-year-old had been filming an episode of Top Gear at Elvington airfield near York at the time when the front wheels of the dragster he was driving failed.

Richard had to be airlifted to hospital and suffered serious head injuries, resulting in him staying in a coma for two weeks.

‘It did make me think of my own mortality but I’m [over] 50 now so I was having those kinds of thoughts already anyway,’ Richard said as he reflected on the crash.

‘The whole thing just folded itself into a general midlife crisis. I’ve achieved bugger all, and I don’t think it would make much difference if I were to die.’

Richard’s accident sparked a midlife crisis (Picture: Rex)

Richard said that his wife Mindy gave him an ultimatum following the incident and that if he was involved in another crash their marriage was over.

He added to The Irish Independent: ‘Sometimes accidents happen, but accidents can happen in any line of work. You just have to hope that they don’t. My knee still hurts.

‘The accident taught me that we might be making television but that doesn’t mean that we exist in some kind of bubble cut off from reality. There can still be dangers.’

The trio is returning later this month for more Grand Tour (Picture: Amazon)

Richard is set to return to television screens alongside James May and Jeremy Clarkson for another Grand Tour special – titled Carnage A Trois -set to be released on December 17.

In the trailer alone, one car rolls down a cliff, and Richard gets told to move his ‘f**king vehicle’ by angry locals and there are explosions aplenty.

More: Richard Hammond

‘In this second lockdown special, the trio dive into the bizarre world of French car culture,’ announced a spokesperson from the streaming service.

‘On an epic road trip starting in the Welsh hills, they dish up a hair-raising mountain climb, bomb defusals, propeller powered cars, helicopter stunts and the most thrilling race of their lives before reaching the English Channel for a jaw dropping medieval climax.

‘And a soupcon of French art house cinema.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.