[dentstudent (OP)]

Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond in helicopter crash scare

Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond were forced into an emergency landing after a bird struck their helicopter during a trip to New Zealand. Ok so far

The pair were 30 seconds into a flight over Auckland harbour with four other passengers on Friday 13th when a seagull flew into the rotor blades of their French-built Squirrel helicopter. Still ok

The helicopter was the same model involved in crashes that killed ex-world rally driver Colin McRae and former Chelsea manager Matthew Harding. It starts here - this completely irrelevant

According to newspaper reports, the pilot announced that he was making an emergency landing before spinning the helicopter around 400ft above the water and landing it safely at the nearby Mechanics Bay helipad. Oh, so not that dangerous, then. And also it's now a report based on second hand information.

Andy McKay said: "I just told the passengers, 'We've clipped a bird, I'm just going to go back and check the rotors out. Once we landed they just jumped out." The story is now effectively dead. "Pilot safely lands helicopter and passengers get out." Great story!

It is the second time that Richard Hammond, 39, has had a brush with death. Brush with death!!!!

In September 2006, he suffered a severe head injury after the jet-powered dragster he was attempting to break the British land speed record in flipped over at 314mph. After the helicopter incident, an onlooker told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: "You could see the relief on his face. It's pretty scary that their helicopter hit a bird on Friday 13th. They've been joking that a 'hamster' got inside a Squirrel and nearly got killed by a seagull."

Clarkson, 48, was also said to be badly shaken – it came just days after he was stung by a bee. [] [] [] [] Headline news!!!! Clarkson stung by a bee!!!

A source close to the presenter told the Daily Star Sunday: "He's convinced he's on an animal hit list."

Once the helicopter had been checked over, the pair reboarded to fly to a remote beach. Mr McKay said: "Once we were in the sky again they were a joke a minute."

Clarkson and Hammond, are in New Zealand for a Top Gear live stage show tour, which they are also taking to South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the presenters said of the incident: "They were calm. Proper procedure was followed."

So the complete story is - not news

How do you feel about this type of sensationalism?

[Chemistry4me]

HA! Who wrote this, NZ media?
Just as well I don't read the Sunday Star Times []

[Don_1]

I read a somewhat shorter piece and thought 'is this news?'.

As for

Clarkson, 48, was also said to be badly shaken – it came just days after he was stung by a bee.

All I can say is; that poor poor bee.

[Make it Lady]

An animal hit list hey! Is there an animal mafia? Do they have special meetings with a secret hand/paw/trotter shake? Are fish in on it too? Was the bird wearing a kamikaze head band?

[dentstudent (OP)]

An animal hit list hey! Is there an animal mafia? Do they have special meetings with a secret hand/paw/trotter shake? Are fish in on it too? Was the bird wearing a kamikaze head band?

Would it be headed by the Codfather?

[paul.fr]

But most of the so called news are just adverts, feel good stories and a bit of gossip about some z list start. Are you really surprised to read this...stuff? If you ever watch the BBC, Sky or ITV news you will realise they are just feeding the couch potato lifestyle with celebrity gossip and trailers. What is news is dumbed down to the level of the couch potato...even programmes like newsnight are going the way of mainstream news.

[Don_1]

I agree with you there Paul, this so called 'celeb culture' is getting too much.

Celeb come dancing
Celeb dancing on ice
Celeb wife swap
Celeb job swap
Celeb who want's to be a millionaire
I'm a celeb get me out of here
Celeb cookery
Celeb mimicking celeb
Celeb boxing

How many more of this 'has beens' and 'never made its' are these programme makers going to resurrect from the grave? I wouldn't mind so much, perhaps, if I knew who some of them are (or were).

You're right about the news too. It's all about bleeding celebs.

Come hither Mr Producer, let me whisper in your ear

I DON'T WANT TO BLOODY KNOW!!!

[JimBob]

News is proceeded by headlines such as these -

Taliban Bombs Kabul For 2Nd Time

South Africa And India Sign Weapons Deal

Chamberlain declares "Peace In Our Time"


The rest of the stuff is just rubbish.

[Bored chemist]

On a not entirely unrelated note; by whom are these people celebrated? If, as I suspect, the answer is "nobody" then they arent' celebrities are they?

[Make it Lady]

The next show is celebs under the knife. They are going to get dollar to try and look like they did when they were pop stars. Bagzie I operate on David Van Dan. I'd sew a dick onto his forehead because that is what he is. A d***head

[paul.fr]

I agree with you there Paul...

You should see a doctor, at once!

[Bored chemist]

There was a story today about 2 nuclear submarines crashing into eachother. A bit of a nuisance and an estimated £50M bill. Nobody got hurt; the missiles that they were carrying were not involved, nor were the nuclear reactors that power the subs.
This was described by  CND as 'a nuclear nightmare of the highest order'
http://www.cnduk.org/

I think I have seen hyperbole of " the higest order"