Monday, 23 October 2006

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Richard Hammond: Lego saved my life

The Hamster gives first interview since terrifying crash

Richard Hammond reckons Lego is helping him recover from his brain injury.

The 36-year-old Top Gear presenter - who was feared palaysed when he crashed his jet-powered dragster in September during filming - reckons the children's game is great for mental concentration.

'My co-presenter James May sent me a massive tractor with a plough on the back,' he tells The Daily Mirror. 'The doctors were amazed at how good I am at it. It's really good therapy for a brain injury. Great for spatial awareness.

'I was a Lego fiend when I was eight and, suddenly, it was all I wanted to do again.'

Richard, who is now recovering at home, admits that although doctors are astonished by how well he's doing, he is suffering from short-term memory loss.

'I'm not out of the woods yet, it's not over,' he says. 'Emotionally, I'm still a long way from being back to normal.'