Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share after opening this morning at 462.6p a share. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? In July 2013, 48 people were evacuated after witnesses saw a metal bar break away from the ride before landing near them, exposing a gap in the track and forcing another shutdown. They are my everything.'. In a statement, the University of Nottingham Students' Union, said: "The costume was in no way intended to reference the tragedy that occurred on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers. Im always aching.". Nicholas Varney, 53, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, and Alton Towers divisional director Ian Crabbe attended court. And Vicky revealed in November that she had been given a multi-million pound payout for her injuries. "Those individuals who have not yet settled their claims have received significant interim payments. 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', The barrister, speaking for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which brought the prosecution, said: 'Engineers who came to remedy the situation, regarding the indicated block-stop, thought it was a false one reflecting a recently corrected issue and did not see the stalled train, and proceeded to re-set and re-start the ride, overriding the computer-generated block-stop.'. 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. What science tells us about the afterlife. 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. Joe Pugh, 18, a student at Huddersfield University, and his girlfriend Leah Washington were among the victims. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. She received thousands of likes and wrote: "So this happened yesterday I SAID YES. For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark Bristol Live's homepage. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. The students have apologised for causing any offence, Joe Pugh (second from right) and his girlfriend Leah Washington (second from left) have both tweeted about the fancy dress outfits, Leah Washington, whose leg was amputated, tweeted at the same time as her boyfriend Joe Pugh, The students wore homemade rollercoaster seats strapped to their backs, Alton Towers operator Merlin was fined 5m, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78, Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over. But Leah added: "Its not going to bring back my leg, its not going to bring back the life I had before. The dress helped me decide on a theme its very fairytale. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. Its not really a life, but it's something I'll have to live with.". But Leah, from Barnsley, South Yorks., says she is still waiting for final damages to be paid out. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. 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. Later in the day we ate lunch and that was when the incident occurred.. Students who dressed up as a rollercoaster and called themselves the "7 legless" have apologised to victims of the Alton Towers crash. The accident in June 2015 was put down to human error and Alton Towers owner Merlin Attractions was fined 5million for health and safety breaches. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? CCTV shows horrific moment Alton Towers ride carriages smash into each other 'like 90mph car crash', Alton Towers Smiler crash victims pay tribute to Drayton Manor schoolgirl, Watch: Delighted passengers queue to go on The Smiler as it reopens, BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt halts show to warn Lenny Henry 'you shouldn't say that', Charlie was hosting BBC Breakfast on Thursday - but warned Lenny: "You really shouldn't say that. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 2023 BBC. Read about our approach to external linking. With 14 inversions, The Smiler holds the world record for most inversions on a roller coaster. The pair then began planning their special day and Vicky admitted she would be using the payout money to fund her dream wedding. The prosecution went on to say that none of the four engineers involved in working on the Smiler 'had the full picture or understanding of conditions on the ride'. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. She was sat in the front carriage when the crash happened and was rushed in to surgery where doctors had to amputate her right leg. It added that Alton Towers had introduced a number of new safety measures across all its multi-car rollercoasters since the accident. The collision on the two-year-old attraction occurred when one carriage containing 16 visitors collided with an empty one on a low section of the track. 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. Judge Michael Chambers QC said the crash on the 18m attraction was a "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 But that money doesnt go to the victims so Leah and Joe have been mounting a substantial compensation claim. When the Smiler reopens, it will include new safety measures including additional CCTV cameras and an enhanced safety process requiring a senior member of staff to authorise the manual overrides that caused the Smiler crash. The mother-of-one said she was 'emotional' on the lead up to the big day and 'wouldn't change' anything about her life because she wouldn't have her beloved husband or their son, who is also known as Vinnie. The defendant is ultimately responsible for these errors though they were made by individuals.'. Do you know this baby? 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Speaking to Mirror Online, she said: Its hard being asked how many children you want, thinking about whether youll be able to use a prosthetic when youre older, when youll be in a wheelchair. A court hearing in April this year was told Merlin had conducted an internal investigation following the incident, which established that a worker manually 'overrode' the ride's governing computer system. Artificial limbs can cost 80,000 each and need replacing every few years. The pair announced their engagement two years ago onInstagram. Emergency services were still attempting to free the last of the trapped passengers four hours after the incident, using a specially constructed platform to reach the carriage. Good luck to all the teenagers involved. Giving an example of the idiosyncratic approach, Mr Thorogood said one engineer who worked on the Smiler that day told investigators after the crash that he had 'assumed' the rollercoaster had been fitted with a type of safety trip-switch present on at least one other park ride, when in fact it had not. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Alton Towers owner fined 5m over Smiler rollercaster crash, Alton Towers owner pleads guilty over Smiler rollercoaster crash, Alton Towers crash victim says bionic leg has transformed her life, Alton Towers Smiler crash footage released for first time, Alton Towers ride reopens despite protests, Moment of Alton Towers Smiler crash CCTV video, Alton Towers crash victim learns to walk again on prosthetic leg video, Alton Towers crash victim says amputation was a relief, Alton Towers Smiler ride victims meet 'amazing' rescuers at ceremony, Alton Towers: footage of ride seconds after crash - video, Alton Towers crash victim Leah Washington feared she would die on the Smiler. Alton Towers owners, Merlin, admitted being at fault and a 5 million fine was imposed by the courts. Guardian's Allowance weekly payments are also rising in April. Alton Towers operator Merlin has been fined 5m for the crash on the Smiler rollercoaster. People just standing around in bewilderment really.. A VICTIM of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash told how she's living in agony and has been left constantly aching two years on from losing a leg in the smash. He said a test carriage had been sent around the 14-loop ride, but had failed - known as 'valley-ing' - in the bottom-most part of the Cobra Roll area of the ride, unseen by ride staff. Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, who were in the front row, are circled, 'We will not give up. Merlin Entertainments said the ride. What science tells us about the afterlife. 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He said settlements relied on receiving certain information from claimants, and Merlin had "provided appropriate support including interim payments while the assessments continue". ', Fleet of buses enters Mariupol to evacuate citizens, Aftermath: These are the damaged Smiler carriages, which show how the ride buckled with the force of the collision, Shocking past: The major crash on the Smiler in June 2015 (pictured) in which five people were seriously injured, Rescue: The victims were stuck for up to four hours, some were left unconscious by the crash and lost significant amounts of blood. 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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.". It is located in the X-Sector area of the park. THIS is the moment a Smiler rollercoaster smashed into the back of another carriage at Alton Towers and left two teenagers needing leg amputations. Now Jeremy Hunt must give us a Budget to boost Britain, Leicester 'explosion': Listen to massive 'sonic' boom that shook homes and rattled windows. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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': Conservatives blast fellow Republican Matt Schlapp after the CPAC organizer suggested transgender swimmer Lia Thomas 'deserves our compassion', Trump asked Bill Barr 'what the hell were those cops thinking' when they killed George Floyd, said Eric Garner's death looked 'pretty bad' and Ahmaud Arbery's murder was 'ugly', former AG claims in new book, Donald Trump's personal attorney claims thieves broke into her parked car looking to steal former president's confidential files as CCTV shows suspects zooming past his Bedminster golf club before targeting her vehicle, New deal, old flame! 'Although I've been through a lot, I wouldn't change what happened because I probably wouldn't have Dino or Vinnie. Me, Dinos mum and my best friends ended up crying. The court also heard engineers should have seen the empty carriage which was visible on CCTV cameras covering the track. After that, we didnt really know what it was, then it started filtering through that something bad had happened. Update 26 October 2016: This report has been amended after The Tab said it had incorrectly reported the students were dressed as Smiler victims with "fake amputated legs". 'A number of errors were made. When the wedding was put off last year, the couplestarted trying for a baby, andthree months after coming off the pill they conceived. Chanda Chauhan, 49, from Wednesbury, had surgery after suffering internal injuries. Im slowly getting that back, but life is never going to be the same as it used to be.. ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. But at least now I can live my life. Leah Washington, 18, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and Vicky Balch, 20, from Leyland, Lancashire, were both forced to undergo leg amputations as a result of the horror crash. We went halfway across the park and then we heard a big bang. ", Cash machine fraudsters target Staffordshire banks, Cold weather warning for possible snow showers, Man jailed following fatal hit and run which killed 'devoted mother' in Crewe, Council working on new tree planting policy amid claims existing rules preventing highways planting, Major bus operator announces it will 'step in and cover' Arriva services, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline, Published: 05:33 EST, 26 September 2016 | Updated: 15:25 EST, 26 September 2016. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. Four people suffered serious leg injuries and were left suspended eight metres off the ground for several hours after a collision between two carriages on a rollercoaster at Alton Towers amusement park. Passengers were left trapped more than 20 feet from the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees before they were eventually freed by emergency workers and stretchered away. Its affected literally every aspect of my life. Its all to go on treatment. Judge Michael Chambers QC described the accident as a "catastrophic failure" and said it was entirely avoidable. The Smiler ride at Alton Towers Read More Related Articles. Dino also spoke to Mirror Online about their relationship and his role in keeping Vicky's spirits up. as being like something out of a "horror movie. What normal 24-year-old has to think about any of that? He said the wounds suffered, both physical and psychological, had 'changed the lives of the some of those injured, in the most dramatic way'. The victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have been pictured together for the first time since the horrific incident. EXCLUSIVE: The two young women could get around 2million each, according to . September 11, 2015, 1:35 AM. Something went wrong, please try again later. Speaking on their behalf, Simon Antrobus, defending, said: 'They wish me to deliver an apology to the court and to those injured and affected by this ride. Lawyer Paul Paxton said: "Our clients suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the accident. She continued: When I said Id accept, it was such a massive weight lifted. The trapped ridegoers then had to wait more than four hours to be freed from the crumpled carriage while rescue workers battled to reach them as they sat 25ft up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees, pinned in by the mangled metal. It faces a multi-million pound fine and potentially millions more in compensation claims from the victims following a Health and Safety Executive prosecution. Leah, whose case should be resolved next year, will need money for the rest of her life. Leah, 17 had just left school and had only been going out with Joe, 18, for four days when they had a day out at the Staffordshire theme park two years ago. Evidence: Vicky Balch and other victims lost significant amounts of blood - and she had to have her right leg amputated. ', Arriving at court: Leah Washington, 18, left with boyfriend Joe Pugh, who broke his legs, and Vicky Balch, 20, right with her mother, were both forced to undergo leg amputations when Smiler crashed, and were at Stafford Crown Court today, Dreadful:Vickie Balch (pictured) was among 16 people injured in June last year - Merlin, which runs Alton Towers, are being sentenced for health and safety breaches, Upsetting: The moments after Smiler crashed last year - leaving the injured dangling in mid air. Its entirely possible that Leahs claim will run into millions., And Leah says: You cant put a price on losing a limb. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. 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. My life as a wife and mum will be so different now. 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. ASHBURN, Va. (7News) A tractor-trailer carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel overturned on Route 7 in Loudoun County early Wednesday morning, causing significant traffic delays. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Brave Leah Washington, 19, was among 16 hurt when their carriage ploughed into another broken down on the 18million Smiler ride.