A woman who lost her leg in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has received a multi-million pound payout four years on. Students who dressed up as a rollercoaster and called themselves the "7 legless" have apologised to victims of the Alton Towers crash. An independent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive is ongoing. The Alton Towers spokeswoman said a full investigation would take place into the accident. 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. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? "Those individuals who have not yet settled their claims have received significant interim payments. "Regrettably, where such serious injuries are sustained, it can take many years before the extent of losses can be established.". 'Although I've been through a lot, I wouldn't change what happened because I probably wouldn't have Dino or Vinnie. 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. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, which owns and operates the Alton Towers theme park, previously admitted a breach of health and safety rules over the incident. Staff - under pressure to keep the ride in almost constant use and offered bonuses to keep it running - had not even read the manual for the 18million rollercoaster. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the Smiler ride which rammed into a stationary carriage in June 2015. A court saw CCTV footage today for the. I would like to thank them for all their support over the past 2 years., We pay for your stories! Alton Towers Smiler crash Thrill-seekers left with devastating injuries All 16 people were eventually freed from the carriage. Manufactured by Gerstlauer, it opened in 2013 as the world's first Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster. "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. A couple seriously injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers have announced their engagement. 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. An independent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the accident is continuing. EXCLUSIVE: The two young women could get around 2million each, according to . At the beginning of Monday's hearing, Judge Chambers said: 'One of the features is not just the impact on those injured, but on those close to them.'. One had then overridden a computer system 'block-stop' which they believed had halted the ride in error, sending a full 16-seater rollercoaster car around the track and into the empty carriage. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the Smiler ride which rammed into a stationary carriage in June 2015. 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The men and women, some of whom could have been killed, faced the theme park's bosses who were told they could face a 10million fine - plus compensation to its victims - for the disaster on June 2, 2015. 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.". Brave Leah Washington, 19, was among 16 hurt when their carriage ploughed into another broken down on the 18million Smiler ride. He added that he had read all the victim impact statements. 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.. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the. People hear Ive got money and think it must be like winning the lottery. Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, which is owned by Merlin Entertainments, was fined 5million over the Smiler crash in 2015. In an interview in August, Washington described the blur of waking up in hospital and being told her left leg had been amputated and that it still had not sunk in. He said settlements relied on receiving certain information from claimants, and Merlin had "provided appropriate support including interim payments while the assessments continue". Evidence: Vicky Balch and other victims lost significant amounts of blood - and she had to have her right leg amputated. They described the aftermath as being like something out of a "horror movie. Prosecutors revealed the weather should have shut down the ride and engineers were ill-equipped to deal with the aftermath. I have to be careful with the money, I have to plan how much I need to keep away for later life and care.. The court also heard engineers should have seen the empty carriage which was visible on CCTV cameras covering the track. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Lawyers for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have said the 1.1-kilometre Smiler, which opened in 2013, never had 'a proper settled system' for staff to follow when carriages stopped on-track. Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, were. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. The owner of Alton Towers is facing a multimillion-pound fine after it admitted breaking health and safety laws over the rollercoaster crash that seriously injured five passengers. Vicky shared the happy news on social media in a post that read: 'Finally ready to introduce the newest member of our family Venanzio Joseph Manciocchi born 12/3/2021 after an emotional rollercoaster which ended in emergency C-Section and 3 nights in Neo-natal the family is finally home and ready to enjoy many memories @dinomanciocchi.'. Alton Towers operator Merlin was fined 5m after admitting . We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Indicating a guilty plea to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, Merlin's barrister told the previous hearing that the company accepted additional measures could have been taken to guard against safety risks. 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Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both teenagers riding the Smiler when it crashed in. Disgusting.". Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both teenagers riding the Smiler when it crashed in 2015. Vicky was excited to speak about her wedding, saying: We are getting married in Italy, an intimate ceremony with friends and family. Two teenagers involved in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash were on their first official date, it emerged today. @altontowers not what I expected to see today.. 2 carriage crashed into each other on the Smiler!!! The women are suing Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd for negligence and or breach of statutory duty. I want lots of candles and fairylights.. Our concern is with and for them and for their safety, and all our thoughts and efforts are focused on them.. Miss Balch has said she does not see the point in being angry about what happened. Now we can focus fully on that.. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. Alton Towers crash victim has collapsed lung and fractured leg Daniel Thorpe, 27, was named on social media by his father as having been in front row of Smiler ride when it collided with test. The footage published for the first time today shows the Smiler stop at the top of a loop before bungling Alton Towers engineers overrode a system warning and sent it headlong into another truck on June 2 last year. A Merlin spokesman said: "From the outset we have admitted liability and have engaged fully at all times to achieve settlement for all the claimants as quickly as possible. The pair announced their engagement two years ago onInstagram. It concluded that the defendant, Merlin, fell 'far short' when it came to governing the inevitable need for engineers from the park's technical service's department to fix faults on the ride. The Staffordshire theme park owner has already admitted breaching the Health and Safety Act, and was fined 5m in September 2016. It added that Alton Towers had introduced a number of new safety measures across all its multi-car rollercoasters since the accident. Vicky said: I dont think Im ever going to get real closure. He said settlements relied on receiving certain information from claimants, and Merlin had "provided appropriate support including interim payments while the assessments continue". Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share after opening this morning at 462.6p a share. In November 2013, guide wheels fell off the ride and hit four people in the front carriage, once again forcing it to close. 'There was no single member of technical service staff in control,' Mr Thorogood said. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. But Leah added: "Its not going to bring back my leg, its not going to bring back the life I had before. 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. The engineers had re-set the ride and overridden a computer system 'block-stop' which they believed had halted the ride in error, sending a full 16-seater rollercoaster car around the track and into the empty carriage. Sixteen people were injured in the crash in June 2015, including Ms Washington and Vicky Balch, who both needed leg amputations. Balch, who also lost a leg in the incident, has previously said she wanted the ride to shut for good. "I understand that complex claims like mine take a long time. Leah dreamed of becoming a teacher, but she says that her disability is proving a barrier to the job she's always wanted. I was told the average life expectancy of someone with an amputation. Merlin Entertainments said: Alton Towers continues to provide help and support to all of those who were on the ride when the incident happened. Chanda Chauhan, 49, from Wednesbury, had surgery after suffering internal injuries. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, who were in the front row, are circled, 'We will not give up. 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. "There are lots of meetings and specialists you have to see. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 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. Leah was on a date with boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, when the accident happened. Sixteen people were injured in the crash in June 2015, including Ms Washington and Vicky Balch, who both needed leg amputations. However, he added that although there had been 'a number of human errors', the 'fault here is with the employers', and not individuals. A law firm representing eight of those injured when two carriages of the Smiler ride crashed. Vicky Balch is now going to focus on planning her wedding, Sign up to our free email alerts for the top Bristol Voices stories sent straight to your e-mail. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Mr Antrobus turned to confer with Mr Varney before replying: 'No. We went halfway across the park and then we heard a big bang. Leah Washington and her boyfriend Joe Pugh on The Smiler. They are my everything.'. Vicky is now planing her wedding to fianc Dino Manciocchi next year. Alton Towers owners, Merlin, admitted being at fault and a 5 million fine was imposed by the courts. Joe Pugh has received his final settlement from the theme park while his girlfriend will have to wait until next year for her compensation.
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