Richard Hammond's Solihull connection as he marks 20 years since Top Gear crash

Richard Hammond has marked 20 years since the Top Gear crash that nearly cost him his life, prompting renewed interest in the presenter and his remarkable recovery.

Hammond was seriously injured on 20 September 2006 when the jet-powered Vampire dragster he was driving at Elvington airfield near York crashed at more than 300mph.

Two decades later, the Solihull-born presenter has reflected on the accident, saying he was convinced he was going to die in the moments before the crash.

He also used the anniversary to thank the emergency workers, air ambulance crews, doctors and other medical staff who helped rescue and treat him.

Richard Hammond's Solihull connection

While Hammond became famous around the world alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, his story began in Solihull.

He was born in the town on 19 December 1969 and spent part of his childhood in the area.

Hammond attended Blossomfield Infant School in Sharmans Cross from the age of three to seven and was also originally a pupil at Solihull School before his family later moved to North Yorkshire.

His connection to the region also has a link to the motor industry, with Hammond's grandfather having worked in Birmingham's car industry.

That early connection to the area would eventually be followed by a career that made Hammond one of Britain's best-known motoring presenters.

The crash that changed his career

The accident happened while Hammond was filming for Top Gear.

He was driving the jet-powered Vampire dragster when it veered off the track and overturned. Hammond was airlifted to hospital and placed into a coma following the crash.

His recovery allowed him to return to Top Gear just four months later, with his comeback receiving a huge reception from viewers and the studio audience.

Hammond, Clarkson and May continued presenting the programme together until 2015 before later reuniting for Amazon's The Grand Tour.

Hammond's message 20 years on

Marking the anniversary, Hammond said he was only able to reflect on the crash because of the people who rescued him and treated him afterwards.

He specifically thanked members of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and medical teams who helped him following the accident.

The anniversary comes as Hammond remains a familiar figure in British television and motoring, while the BBC has also announced plans for Top Gear to return in 2027 with a new presenting line-up.

For Solihull, however, the anniversary has also brought renewed attention to the town's connection to one of the most recognisable faces in British motoring television.