She doesnt deserve this and we dont want to go through life watching her struggle., Legal expert Deborah Saini comments: There were failings on the part of Alton Towers and that means they can claim compensation. 'A number of errors were made. He said: I just wanted to be there for her, taking her mind off things. Both have been undergoing rehabilitation for their injuries. The pair both feature in a new Channel 5 series, Where Theres Blame Theres A Claim, which examines compensation cases. Interim payments have since been paid to cover Leah's medical and physio bills to date, but the full compensation figure is still being assessed. Read about our approach to external linking. Ben Richardson, who posted pictures on Twitter of the crashed rollercoaster, told the BBC the collision sounded like car crash it was very full on. Mr Thorogood said some victims described the angle as 45 degrees, but accepted this was disputed. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Smiler crash, a rollercoaster collision which rocked the UK back in 2015. Joe tells the documentary: I could just see blood, bone and flesh splattered on the carriage in front., Leah says: I remember saying to you Will you hold my hand and you said I cant my fingers hanging off.. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Leah was on a date with boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, when the accident happened, The teen's left leg was so badly crushed doctors amputated it below the knee, Those on the ride suffered injuries all over their bodies - here a badly cut finger is stitched up, A bloodied finger is pictured here as victims suffered horrific injuries in the crash, Leah's leg was left badly crushed and doctors were forced to amputate below the knee, Leah was speaking to Channel 5's documentary Where Theres Blame, Theres a Claim, Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, which owns Alton Towers, reopened the Smiler rollercoaster after several months despite the horrific incident, Brave Leah said: 'I didnt think it would be as hard as it is. Alton Towers amputee Vicky Balch has married her fiance in an 'emotional' ceremony six years after she lost her leg in a horrific accident on the theme park's Smiler ride. She captioned apicture of the pair: ''Can't believe my best friend asked me to marry him on Friday. Leah, 17 had just left school and had only been going out with Joe, 18, for four days when they had a day out at the Staffordshire theme park two years ago. The carriages collided so hard the two became meshed together, crushing the limbs of people in the front row and sending the ride swinging back-and-forth like a pendulum. #notgood! The dress helped me decide on a theme its very fairytale. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. A law firm representing eight of those injured when two carriages of the Smiler ride crashed. He . Four people were seriously hurt after two carriages on the Smiler rollercoaster collided at the theme park yesterday. pic.twitter.com/aX8mBDaX7K. The documentary also features 57-year-old security worker Ivan Martin who battled to receive compensation from West Midlands Police for twice being wrongly arrested. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. "Its design was based on a traditional concept that has existed for several years and no reference was made to the Smiler by the students involved. In its investigation, the safety watchdog found that a 'near-gale' may have been to blame for the empty carriage failing to clear the Cobra Loop in the first place, following an early problem with one of the ride's lifts. Chanda Chauhan, 49, from Wednesbury, had surgery after suffering internal injuries. Alton Towers owners, Merlin, admitted being at fault and a 5 million fine was imposed by the courts. Alton Towers owner fined 5m over Smiler rollercaster crash, Alton Towers owner pleads guilty over Smiler rollercoaster crash, Alton Towers crash victim says bionic leg has transformed her life, Alton Towers Smiler crash footage released for first time, Alton Towers ride reopens despite protests, Alton Towers Smiler ride crash caused by human error, theme park says, Moment of Alton Towers Smiler crash CCTV video, Alton Towers crash victim learns to walk again on prosthetic leg video, Alton Towers crash victim says amputation was a relief, Alton Towers Smiler ride victims meet 'amazing' rescuers at ceremony. "Whilst money cannot make up for what they have endured over the past three years, financial security can at least help the victims to lead a full and active life. Leah, whose case should be resolved next year, will need money for the rest of her life. Later in the day we ate lunch and that was when the incident occurred.. Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share after opening this morning at 462.6p a share. The theme park's operator Merlin has been warned to expect a 'very large fine' for health and safety breaches. Four of those rescued had significant lower-limb injuries that were not life threatening and were treated at the scene by trauma doctors, after what was described as the most serious accident at Alton Towers since the popular theme park opened in 1980. ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. Leah was on a date with boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, when the accident happened. It has been closed twice before because of technical issues. No amount will give me my leg back or the life I would have had.. Box 7200, Leesburg, VA 20177 Four people suffered serious leg injuries and were left suspended eight metres off the ground for several hours after a collision between two carriages on a rollercoaster at Alton Towers amusement park. He said the wounds suffered, both physical and psychological, had 'changed the lives of the some of those injured, in the most dramatic way'. She told the Sunday Mirror: 'It will be very emotional and there will be lots of tears. One person, 23-year-old Orlando Rodriguez, died at the scene of the crash on April 2, 2022. Russia announces new ceasefire and 'humanitarian corridors' for fleeing civilians in FIVE cities from Wednesday morning - but will Putin's troops stop firing? ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. Leah, who is facing fresh surgery on her leg in September, said: "They said it would take up to three years, so were still waiting to hear. Witnesses described hearing a huge sound, like a car crash when the carriages came together on the Smiler attraction on Tuesday afternoon. It was never going to be easy. He said: 'The staff had come to distrust at that stage the fault signal on occasions and hence they thought that the one that was showing was an error. Tom Whelton, who was on the Smiler hours before the crash, said his carriage got stuck on the rollercoasters first hill. Do you know this baby? But hopefully it will cover everything I need.. I want lots of candles and fairylights.. Vicky is now planing her wedding to fianc Dino Manciocchi next year. Miss Balch, of Leyland, Lancashire, and Miss Washington, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, needed partial leg amputations after the crash. Joe Pugh, 18, a student at Huddersfield University, and his girlfriend Leah Washington were among the victims. Alton Towers Smiler Victims Pictured Together For The First Time Since Crash; Modern World Driving Children to Despair. Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both teenagers riding the Smiler when it crashed in 2015. We will not lose': Zelensky's Commons speech, Ukrainian protesters defiantly urinate on Russian tank, Police release video of person of interest in Daytona Beach killings, Ukrainian navy cheer after apparently destroying warship in Odessa, Woman gets stuck three times on cruise ship looping waterslide, Wallace says Russian soliders are being let down by appalling leaders, Man and daughter see rare wolverine in Yellowstone National Park, Russian prisoner: 'My forces began to shoot at my legs', Shocking moment paraglider's harness breaks and he plummets to beach, Russian prisoner claims deserters are threatened with jail time, Moment speeding car crashes into minivan leaving nine dead, Aerial footage shows Irpin residents evacuating through icy river. He said a test carriage had been sent around the 14-loop ride, but had failed - known as 'valley-ing' - in the bottom-most part of the Cobra Roll area of the ride, unseen by ride staff. A couple seriously injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers have announced their engagement. Leah Washington told her 26,000 Instagram followers about the engagement, Joe Pugh, who was 19 when the crash happened, and Leah Washington, then 18, continued dating, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78, Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over. Where There's Blame There's A Claim features Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, Don't miss any TV and showbiz news - sign up to free alerts. Judge Michael Chambers QC said the crash on the 18m attraction was a "catastrophic failure and a "needless and avoidable accident in which those who were injured were lucky not to be killed.". 2023 BBC. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. ', Fleet of buses enters Mariupol to evacuate citizens, Aftermath: These are the damaged Smiler carriages, which show how the ride buckled with the force of the collision, Shocking past: The major crash on the Smiler in June 2015 (pictured) in which five people were seriously injured, Rescue: The victims were stuck for up to four hours, some were left unconscious by the crash and lost significant amounts of blood. Collision course: Swinging into the picture moments before impact on the left, the Smiler packed with people circled in blue on the right plummets towards the empty carriage circled in red, Carnage: The two trucks collide like a 90mph car crash and they became meshed together, crushing the people in the front row - two of whom later had legs amputated, Blunder: This footage seconds before the crash shows how the ride was stopped but then set off again when an engineer ignored a warning on the ride's computer system, Scale model: The Health and Safety Executive were able to plot the speed and power of the impact in Britain's worst rollercoaster crash for years. ", Cash machine fraudsters target Staffordshire banks, Cold weather warning for possible snow showers, Man jailed following fatal hit and run which killed 'devoted mother' in Crewe, Council working on new tree planting policy amid claims existing rules preventing highways planting, Major bus operator announces it will 'step in and cover' Arriva services, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. He added that there were 'various states of knowledge' of the fault alarm systems on the ride. An investigation by the Staffordshire theme park in November 2015 found it had been caused by human error. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. But Leah, from Barnsley, South Yorks., says she is still waiting for final damages to be paid out. 'Although I've been through a lot, I wouldn't change what happened because I probably wouldn't have Dino or Vinnie. There has been a series of incidents on the ride since it opened in May 2013. Leah Washington said:Merlin have looked after me and my family so well! An investigation found an engineer had wrongly restarted the Smiler ride while a stationary carriage was on the track in front of it. I had to think about the help Id need, even at the end of my life. Read about our approach to external linking. A VICTIM of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash told how she's living in agony and has been left constantly aching two years on from losing a leg in the smash. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. Smiler crash victim Joe Pugh and girlfriend Leah Washington, who had her leg amputated, tweeted their "disgust". 'The problem was that the head-wind which that train could not overcome. Im slowly getting that back, but life is never going to be the same as it used to be.. The investigation also identified areas where protocols and the training of employees should be improved. Our concern is with and for them and for their safety, and all our thoughts and efforts are focused on them.. They could each receive "well in excess of 2m" in compensation if the High Court claim is successful. Sixteen people were injured when their carriage collided with an empty one on a low section of the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph. Passengers had to be cut free from wreckage and airlifted to hospital after carriage carrying 16 passengers collided with empty one. And Vicky revealed in November that she had been given a. By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline, Published: 05:33 EST, 26 September 2016 | Updated: 15:25 EST, 26 September 2016. She sometimes says thanks when I dont even notice Ive done anything extra. Evidence: Vicky Balch and other victims lost significant amounts of blood - and she had to have her right leg amputated. Danny Simm, a radio presenter on 96.5 Bolton FM who appears to have been at the amusement park, tweeted: People unconscious, knocked out. "However I am extremely pleased that this settlement will provide financial security for her to help her live the rest of her life to the full and maximise her potential. I need to go to the same physio my entire life, the same appointments my entire life. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Leah and Vicky Balch, of Leyland, Lancashire, who also lost a leg as a result of the crash, later announced they were suing Merlin for negligence and or breach of statutory duty. Kaya Terry For Mailonline The collision on the two-year-old attraction occurred when one carriage containing 16 visitors collided with an empty one on a low section of the track. I had to face that this was going to be something I was going to have to live with for the rest of my life. He said settlements relied on receiving certain information from claimants, and Merlin had "provided appropriate support including interim payments while the assessments continue". He added that he had read all the victim impact statements. What science tells us about the afterlife. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. "I didnt think it would be as hard as it is. Air ambulances landing now, people still stuck.. The victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have been pictured together for the first time since the horrific incident. Alton Towers operator Merlin was fined 5m after admitting breaching the Health and Safety Act. It faces a multi-million pound fine and potentially millions more in compensation claims from the victims following a Health and Safety Executive prosecution. Joe Pugh, 18, also from Barnsley and Daniel Thorpe, 28, from Buxton, Derbyshire, also suffered serious leg injuries, along with 49-year-old Chandaben Chauhan. Balch, who also lost a leg in the incident, has previously said she wanted the ride to shut for good. "The university is aware of the SU's initial investigations regarding this matter and its media statement issued today," it said. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. The pair announced their engagement two years ago onInstagram. But Leah added: "Its not going to bring back my leg, its not going to bring back the life I had before. Leahs blood pressure plunged so low it was unrecordable and she nearly died. Leigh Curtis, who was sitting in a nearby bar when the accident happened, described quite an eerie feel in the aftermath of the collision. Alton Towers Smiler crash victims Vicky Balch and Leah Washington sue theme park owners for millions of pounds. My life as a wife and mum will be so different now. The serious crash unfolded on June 2, 2015, when a loaded train on the. Lawyer Paul Paxton said: "Our clients suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the accident. As of 1:30 p.m., all . Its nothing like that. ", BBC Beyond Paradise star Jamie Bamber is married to Eastenders actress. Merlin Entertainments said: Alton Towers continues to provide help and support to all of those who were on the ride when the incident happened. Two women - Victoria Balch and Leah Washington - had. Latest news and stories from the West Midlands, "catastrophic failure and a "needless and avoidable accident in which those who were injured were lucky not to be killed.". The trapped ridegoers then had to wait more than four hours to be freed from the crumpled carriage while rescue workers battled to reach them as they sat 25ft up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees, pinned in by the mangled metal. The crash on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers that seriously injured five people was caused by human error, the theme park's owner has said. For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark Bristol Live's homepage. Two teenagers involved in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash were on their first official date, it emerged today. Anna Wiseman, Senior Associate at Stewarts who represented Vicky Balch in the legal claim said: No amount of money will ever be able to replace what Vicky has lost. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. Brave Leah Washington, 19, was among 16 hurt when their carriage ploughed into another broken down on the 18million Smiler ride. "From the outset we have engaged fully at all times to resolve all the claims as quickly as possible. Students who dressed up as a rollercoaster and called themselves the "7 legless" have apologised to victims of the Alton Towers crash. Witnesses describe passengers screaming for help from carriage suspended in mid-air after collision on theme parks Smiler attraction. Three-quarters of pet pooches show signs of mental health issues including anxiety, survey reveals, MEGHAN MCCAIN: Disgraced pig Andrew Cuomo claims he and his brother are victims of cancel culture as he launches one of the most repulsive comeback tours in history, BUT we're all better off without them, Florida passes controversial 'Don't Say Gay' Bill that restricts speech in public classrooms on sexual orientation and gender identity after one lawmaker raised concerns that children were being 'trendy' in coming out as gay, Has Biden's SCOTUS pick Ketanji Brown Jackson secured her first Republican vote: Senator Susan Collins calls credentials 'impressive' and rejects calls to slow down nomination, Brother and sister are charged in $124M cryptocurrency scam after 'lying to 20,000 investors about the value of their Ormeus Coin as they spent millions on real estate and traveling around the globe to Rome, India and Singapore', Biden admits he's 'not sure' whether burn pits caused the brain cancer that killed his son Beau - but vows to 'find out everything we can' and tells veterans they 'shouldn't have to ask for a damn thing', 'It's something our son would want us to do': Jill Biden pays tribute to Beau during speech on her 'personal' Cancer Moonshot program during tour of the Tohono O'odham Nation oncology center in Arizona, 'No sane person should promote this insanity! "Furthermore the company has regular direct contact with those seriously injured and continues to provide help and support wherever we can.". The pair tied the knot in front of 50 guests and Vicky's father walked her down the aisle. With 14 inversions, The Smiler holds the world record for most inversions on a roller coaster. Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). They are my everything.'. Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton in Derbyshire, was treated for a collapsed lung and lower leg injuries. Now we can focus fully on that.. The photos were taken by a reporter from student news site The Tab during a bar crawl called the "7 Legged" on Monday night. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? "I come home from work and all I want to do is get in bed. ", Joe wrote on his Instagram page "What a great end to a long weekend in Venice SHE SAID YES". "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The defendant is ultimately responsible for these errors though they were made by individuals.'. does not see the point in being angry about what happened. A court hearing in April this year was told Merlin had conducted an internal investigation following the incident, which established that a worker manually 'overrode' the ride's governing computer system. Read about our approach to external linking. A VICTIM of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash told how she's living in agony and has been left constantly aching two years on from losing a leg in the smash. Joe suffered shattered kneecaps in the accident. "Regrettably, where such serious injuries are sustained, it can take many years before the extent of losses can be established.". The Smiler ride itself, it was concluded, was 'well-designed' as were the computer and 'sophisticated' control systems, while the operator of the ride had followed safe working practices.
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