THE Barnsley couple who suffered devastating injuries in a freak accident at Alton Towers have been nominated by their families for a Proud of Barnsley award for being an inspiration.
Joe Pugh and Leah Washington were among those injured on the Smiler rollercoaster ride on June 2, 2015.
Leah had to have her left leg amputated following the crash at the Staffordshire theme park and Joe was left with smashed kneecaps. Both suffered injuries to their hands.
Despite their horrific injuries and rehabilitation, the couple have kept a positive attitude, setting themselves targets to aim for - from walking without crutches to taking on the Barnsley Hospital Rainbow Run.
Now, Joe is also heading back to university in Huddersfield to start his third year in textile designs and Leah will start an apprenticeship at Summer Lane Primary School as a teaching assistant next week.
Leah, 19, of Limes Avenue, Gawber, said: “I think we have shocked people with how well we have coped. We’re the type of people who just get on with things.
“When I think about it, I think ‘did that really happen?’ because nothing like that had ever happened to us before.
“We had so much support in hospital, everyone was so positive around us.”
Leah said she could remember the incident up until she was given medication which ‘knocked her out.’
She added: “I remember thinking ‘is this really going to happen to us?’ because I could see we were going to crash into it. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel real. Even now it doesn’t feel like it happened.”
Leah and Joe both had to learn how to walk again and will have to have physiotherapy for the rest of their lives. Leah has been using a prosthetic leg since August last year and currently attends the PACE prosthetic and physio centre in Cheadle. She also goes to the Metrodome gym with a personal trainer.
Joe, 20, of Cumberland Drive, Ardsley, added: “Walking and getting out of bed and doing things for yourself, we had to learn all that again. I couldn’t even cut my food, it was like being babied all over again. Looking back, we have come so far. I think it was our parents who struggled. They didn’t cope with it very well and still don’t now.”
Leah added: “When I first got the leg I could only wear it for an hour a day, now I can wear it all day. I feel ok on it, it’s a really good leg - quite an expensive one. You just walk as if you didn’t have any injuries.”
Throughout their rehabilitation, the couple have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity.
They organised a charity event at the Metrodome in November to raise money for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, University Hospitals of North Midlands (Stoke hospital) and Midlands Air Ambulance. The total, including a further raffle and dontions from Leah’s cousin and friend running the London Marathon on her behalf, was around £30,000.
The couple also took part in the Barnsley Hospital 5k Rainbow Dash, completing two laps and raising about £400. The final lap was completed by their mums Julie Pugh and Louise Washington and Leah’s nan Thelma Walton.
Joe and Leah are now looking at climbing Mount Snowdon for charity next year.
Upon learning of their nomination, Leah said: “It’s really nice to be nominated. It’s nice for them to see how well we are doing and because we are so positive it lifts their spirits. I think it’s a bit of a thank you for doing well and being strong and achieving what we have achieved.”
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
