BARNSLEY teenager Leah Washington has had her left leg amputated after suffering life-changing injuries in the horror rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers.
Leah, 17, of Gawber, was on the front row of The Smiler ride with boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, when the carriage they were in smashed into an empty cart.
The couple were among four seriously injured in last Tuesday's accident. It is understood Leah, a former Horizon Community College pupil, also suffered a fractured hand. She remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. Joe, of Ardsley, suffered two broken knees and extensive hand injuries and remains in hospital.
The details have been released as Alton Towers reopened to the public today for the first time since the incident.
Leah's father, David Washington, 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."
He thanked family, friends and well-wishers for their support.
Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher has written to Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which runs Alton Towers, demanding a swift investigation into the crash.
Mr Dugher called on the theme park to work swiftly in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to establish the facts and to take action to review safety standards.HSE officials are working on site at Alton Towers and have since closed the Smiler rollercoaster and two other attractions at the park as their investigation into the incident progresses. Mr Dugher said: "I was very sad to learn the extent of the injuries suffered by the Barnsley couple in last week’s terrible and shocking incident at Alton Towers."My thoughts and prayers are with Joe Pugh and Leah Washington, as well as their families, and I am sure that all of Barnsley will be thinking of them at this difficult time."The cause of the incident at the theme park is still unclear and Alton Towers must work urgently in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive to establish the facts so we can get to the bottom of what happened. Swiftly."It is simply horrifying that this young Barnsley couple travelled to Alton Towers for a day of fun and were involved in a terrible incident like this. We need answers now from Alton Towers."
