Atkinson in hospital after high-speed crash

Television and film star Rowan Atkinson hospitalised after crashing his McLaren F1 supercar in the UK

Comic actor and well-known speed freak Rowan Atkinson is licking his wounds in the Peterborough District Hospital following a high-speed crash in his McLaren F1 GTR supercar (similar to the one pictured).

UK media sources say Atkinson 'cheated death' as he lost control of the car and spun several times before hitting a tree and then a lamppost. The million-dollar car then burst in to flames.

56-year-old Atkinson managed to pull himself free of the crumpled wreckage before emergency services arrived. He is said be suffering shoulder injuries which bystanders say is fortunate given the state of the car. It is the second time the actor has crashed the rare supercar, previously rear-ending an Austin Metro.

Just one of his extensive classic and vintage car collection, Atkinson's McLaren F1 GTR (chassis no. 061) has a top speed of 386km/h. It is not known how fast the vehicle was travelling at the time of the accident.

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