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| Alton Towers Smiler crash: Leah Washington's leg amputated | Alton Towers Smiler crash: Leah Washington's leg amputated |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 17-year-old girl injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has had her leg amputated, it has emerged. | A 17-year-old girl injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has had her leg amputated, it has emerged. |
| Leah Washington was on the front row of the Smiler ride, which crashed into an empty carriage in front of it. | Leah Washington was on the front row of the Smiler ride, which crashed into an empty carriage in front of it. |
| Three others who were also in the front row sustained serious leg injuries, while a fifth person is being treated for internal injuries. | Three others who were also in the front row sustained serious leg injuries, while a fifth person is being treated for internal injuries. |
| The theme park reopened earlier, six days after the crash, but the ride remains closed. | |
| Ms Washington's father, David Washington, from Barnsley, said: "Leah has suffered a life-changing injury and now has many months of rehabilitation ahead of her. | |
| "We have done this to put people's minds at rest and we would also ask everyone to respect Leah's privacy as she undergoes this rehabilitation." | |
| Her leg was amputated above the left knee and she also suffered a fractured left hand. | |
| Alton Towers said it was "deeply saddened" by the news, adding that it will "provide full support to all of those involved now, and throughout their recovery and rehabilitation". | |
| Ms Washington's boyfriend, 18-year-old Joe Pugh from Barnsley, also remains at Royal Stoke Hospital where he is being treated for two broken knees and "extensive" hand injuries, a hospital spokesperson said. | |
| Vicky Balch, from Leyland in Lancashire, who turned 20 while in Royal Stoke Hospital has undergone surgery and is in a "serious but stable" condition, according to her family. | |
| Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton, Derbyshire, was treated at University Hospital Coventry for a collapsed lung and a fractured leg. His condition is described as "serious but stable". | |
| Chanda Singh, 49, from Wednesbury in the Black Country, who was sitting in the second row of the Smiler, was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital with internal injuries. | |
| She had surgery to her stomach, and has a damaged liver and blood clots, her daughter said. | |
| Owners Merlin Entertainments said it had carried out "a thorough review" of safety procedures. | Owners Merlin Entertainments said it had carried out "a thorough review" of safety procedures. |
| Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have also been on site. | Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have also been on site. |
| From the scene: Trystan Jones, BBC News Online | From the scene: Trystan Jones, BBC News Online |
| The queues at the entrance to Alton Towers could be measured in the dozens, rather than hundreds soon after the gates opened at 10:00 BST. | The queues at the entrance to Alton Towers could be measured in the dozens, rather than hundreds soon after the gates opened at 10:00 BST. |
| The car parks also looked pretty empty, although it was early in the day. Nobody I spoke to was worried about safety and a couple said they would be happy to ride the Smiler if it had been open. | The car parks also looked pretty empty, although it was early in the day. Nobody I spoke to was worried about safety and a couple said they would be happy to ride the Smiler if it had been open. |
| One couple told me there was far more chance of having an accident on the way to the park than at it. | One couple told me there was far more chance of having an accident on the way to the park than at it. |
| I spoke to two visitors who used to work at the park. They said safety was really strict, with operators having to complete hours of training before being allowed to operate rides. On some rides operators even have to complete written exams, they said. | I spoke to two visitors who used to work at the park. They said safety was really strict, with operators having to complete hours of training before being allowed to operate rides. On some rides operators even have to complete written exams, they said. |
| A number of people who had pre-booked tickets for Monday have said they will not now attend. | A number of people who had pre-booked tickets for Monday have said they will not now attend. |
| Student Louise Riley, who had planned to visit Alton Towers with a group of friends, said they did not want to feel "like guinea pigs" on the first day since the accident. | Student Louise Riley, who had planned to visit Alton Towers with a group of friends, said they did not want to feel "like guinea pigs" on the first day since the accident. |
| "We're quite a bit nervous that other rides have been closed as well," she said. "It makes you question the safety of all the rides." | "We're quite a bit nervous that other rides have been closed as well," she said. "It makes you question the safety of all the rides." |
| Analysis: Peter Wilson, BBC correspondent | Analysis: Peter Wilson, BBC correspondent |
| I've spoken to Meera Singh, who's 26, and was sitting on the Smiler's second row, with her 49-year-old mother Chanda and her 29-year-old sister Vanisha. | I've spoken to Meera Singh, who's 26, and was sitting on the Smiler's second row, with her 49-year-old mother Chanda and her 29-year-old sister Vanisha. |
| She said what they witnessed that day they will never forget for the rest of their lives. | She said what they witnessed that day they will never forget for the rest of their lives. |
| Amazingly, they just got into a taxi after being cut out of the Smiler, as they just wanted to go home. | Amazingly, they just got into a taxi after being cut out of the Smiler, as they just wanted to go home. |
| Later, they went to the Manor Hospital, in Walsall, where Chanda Singh is being treated for serious injuries, including internal bleeding. She's had surgery to her stomach, and has a damaged liver and blood clots. | Later, they went to the Manor Hospital, in Walsall, where Chanda Singh is being treated for serious injuries, including internal bleeding. She's had surgery to her stomach, and has a damaged liver and blood clots. |
| Meera Singh, though, said the family just felt lucky to be alive. | Meera Singh, though, said the family just felt lucky to be alive. |
| Merlin Entertainments Ltd Chief Executive Nick Varney said Tuesday's crash was the first accident in the company's history and it had introduced extra safety measures at its theme parks. | Merlin Entertainments Ltd Chief Executive Nick Varney said Tuesday's crash was the first accident in the company's history and it had introduced extra safety measures at its theme parks. |
| Alton Towers has said anyone with pre-booked tickets could get a full refund if they did not want to visit. | Alton Towers has said anyone with pre-booked tickets could get a full refund if they did not want to visit. |
| Last week, a number of bed and breakfasts in the nearby village of Alton said people had cancelled bookings in the wake of the crash. | Last week, a number of bed and breakfasts in the nearby village of Alton said people had cancelled bookings in the wake of the crash. |
| They said news that the park was reopening has prompted visitors to get in touch and they were "fairly full" for the next few weeks. | They said news that the park was reopening has prompted visitors to get in touch and they were "fairly full" for the next few weeks. |
| Mr Varney said Tuesday's crash had been "a terrible event for everyone involved". | Mr Varney said Tuesday's crash had been "a terrible event for everyone involved". |
| The park "closed immediately" afterwards, he added, to allow preliminary investigations and give staff "time to come to terms with the [crash] and its aftermath". | The park "closed immediately" afterwards, he added, to allow preliminary investigations and give staff "time to come to terms with the [crash] and its aftermath". |
| "Alton Towers has a long record of safe operation and as we reopen, we are committed to ensuring that the public can again visit us with confidence." | "Alton Towers has a long record of safe operation and as we reopen, we are committed to ensuring that the public can again visit us with confidence." |
| Two more rides at Alton Towers will remain closed on Monday, Mr Varney said. | Two more rides at Alton Towers will remain closed on Monday, Mr Varney said. |
| The X-Sector of the theme park - which houses the Smiler, Enterprise and Oblivion rides - will remain shut until further notice, as part of the HSE investigation. | The X-Sector of the theme park - which houses the Smiler, Enterprise and Oblivion rides - will remain shut until further notice, as part of the HSE investigation. |
| The Spinball ride will also be closed until enhanced safety protocols have been implemented. | The Spinball ride will also be closed until enhanced safety protocols have been implemented. |
| Mr Varney said the design of the ride meant it would take slightly longer than it was hoped for new procedures to be put in place. | Mr Varney said the design of the ride meant it would take slightly longer than it was hoped for new procedures to be put in place. |
| Two rides currently closed at Merlin-owned Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures, both in Surrey, are expected to reopen soon. | Two rides currently closed at Merlin-owned Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures, both in Surrey, are expected to reopen soon. |
| A prohibition notice has been served which prevents the Smiler being operated until "action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure". | A prohibition notice has been served which prevents the Smiler being operated until "action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure". |
| It does not affect other rides at the park. | It does not affect other rides at the park. |
| Earlier, it emerged the two carriages which collided had been removed by the HSE to be examined in a laboratory. | Earlier, it emerged the two carriages which collided had been removed by the HSE to be examined in a laboratory. |
| Are you planning to visit Alton Towers now it has reopened? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you planning to visit Alton Towers now it has reopened? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details. |