Lea 17, rollercoaster crash victim left leg amputated
Leah Washington 17 from Barnsley South Yorkshire, was on the front row of the Smiler ride, which crashed into an empty carriage in front of it, has had her leg amputated above the left knees and suffered a fractured left hand.
Her boyfriend 18-year old Joe Pugh also from Barnsley has two broken knees and extensive hand injuries according Royal Stoke Hospital spokesperson.
Two others who were also in the front row sustained serious leg injuries, Vicky Balch, from Leyland in Lancashire, has undergone surgery and her condition is serious but stable. Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton, Derbyshire, was treated at University Hospital Coventry for a collapsed lung and a fractured leg and his injuries are serious but stable. While a fifth person Chanda Chauhan, 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, underwent surgery to her stomach and has a damaged liver and suffers from blood clots. 26-year-old Meera Singh, who was sitting in the second row of the Smiler at the time of the crash with her mother Chanda and 29 year old sister Vanisha.
The theme park reopened on today 8th June 2015, and bosses said they would ensure the injured would be compensated, however, 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.”
Merlin spokesperson said: “Irrespective of the outcome of the current investigations into the causes of the accident, in these letters we have accepted full responsibility to those who had been injured in the accident and confirmed that we will ensure that compensation will be provided to them.