Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four seriously hurt - BBC News BBC News Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four seriously hurt 2 June 2015 Close share panel Media captionParamedics treat injured at Alton Towers Four people have been seriously hurt in a crash between two carriages on a rollercoaster ride at Alton Towers. Sixteen people were in one carriage of the Smiler ride; the other was empty. West Midlands Ambulance Service said two men, aged 18 and 27, and two women, aged 19 and 17, suffered "significant lower limb injuries". They were airlifted to trauma centres in Stoke and Coventry for treatment. Alton Towers said all guests involved were evacuated by 18:35 BST. A director described it as "the most serious incident" in the park's history. The passengers were trapped for several hours on the ride, about 25ft (7.6m) above the ground. Eyewitnesses reported hearing "a loud crash" when the crash happened at 14:09. Ben Richardson said: "When the second carriage crashed people were screaming and shouting - even after it stopped. Everyone around the park ran over.

"The people looked significantly distressed. It was almost like a car crash, very full-on." Image copyright WMAS Image caption The ambulance and fire services worked to rescue the badly-injured Alton Towers said first responders based at the park were on the scene "within minutes", quickly followed by the emergency services. Hospital trauma team consultants were also brought in to help treat passengers. Alton Towers has said the park will be closed on Wednesday "following the dreadful incident on The Smiler". In a statement the theme park said: "All guests with pre-booked tickets, or those who arrive at the theme park, will have the choice of either having their tickets revalidated for an alternative date or a full refund." Media caption"Thomas", 14, filmed the moments immediately after the crash Sophie Underwood, who was in the park at the time of the crash, said: "It wasn't very high but it was obviously high enough for them to cause some quite serious injuries to the people that were on the rollercoaster.

"They literally had come back off and round the back of a loop, and straight into another empty coach that had been stuck." Image copyright WMAS Image caption Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service built a platform to help people off the ride The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster. It holds the official Guinness World Record for most loops in a rollercoaster, according to the Alton Towers website. The resort claims it features "a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near misses designed to mess with your mind". There have been several accidents and incidents involving the £18m ride since it opened in May 2013. History of problems It closed again in August 2013 for five days due to a "technical issue" . In November 2013 it closed for five days after wheels fell off and hit four people in the front carriage . The injured people were looked after by park staff and did not need treatment by the ambulance service, a spokeswoman said at the time. Riders were also left stranded in the air when the ride ground to a halt at the top of a near vertical section 14 months ago.

Image copyright Kirsty Wild Image caption The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster 'Loud crash' Ellis Dyson, 23, who was in the queue for the ride, added: "The ride was delayed because of a technical fault for a while and then the ride came back on. "They sent a carriage without any people on it first and then sent a carriage with people on and that was the one that crashed. The platform of the ride where we were vibrated and a massive loud crash." Visitors reported on social media that the ride had broken down earlier in the day. Media captionEyewitness Ben Richardson: "People were screaming and shouting" Lucy Farrugia said: "Smiler broke down when I was on it this morning and now it's crashed. Hope everyone on it is OK, saw the air ambulance arrive." Merlin Entertainments said there would be a "full investigation" and the Health and Safety Executive were already on site. The Smiler ride Alton Towers REX FEATURES Ian Crabbe, divisional director at Alton Towers said the whole team at the park was "devastated" by the incident.

"Our thoughts and main concerns and focus are with injured people and the 16 people that were stuck on the train and their immediate families. That is our major concern," he said. Merlin Entertainments was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 after the crash, with shares down 3%. It is the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator behind Disney and runs 105 attractions, 11 hotels and three holiday villages in 23 countries. A help-line for concerned relatives has been set up by the Park which is 0800 230 0770. Alton Towers Alton Towers is located near the village of Alton in Staffordshire and used to be a country estate. It originally became a tourist attraction because of its gardens, but travelling fun fair rides were added to the grounds in the 1950s. The installation of the Corkscrew rollercoaster in 1980 is regarded as a key point in the development of Alton Towers into a major theme park. It now has some of the UK's best known rollercoasters - including Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Rita - and attracts millions of visitors every year.

Alton Towers: four rollercoaster crash victims in hospital | UK news | The Guardian UK news Alton Towers: four rollercoaster crash victims in hospital Witnesses describe passengers screaming for help from carriage suspended in mid-air after collision on theme park’s Smiler attraction Footage of the Smiler rollercoaster seconds after the crash. Tuesday 2 June 2015 15.52 EDT First published on Tuesday 2 June 2015 10.14 EDT Close This article is 1 year old 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. Witnesses described hearing a “huge sound, like a car crash” when the carriages came together on the Smiler attraction on Tuesday afternoon. The victims screamed for help as they were left suspended in mid-air on the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph, for several hours. Emergency services eventually rescued 16 people trapped on the rollercoaster at a 45-degree angle.

The accident occurred just after 2pm and the evacuation of the ride was completed at 6.35pm, according to an Alton Towers spokeswoman. Four of those rescued had “significant lower-limb injuries” that were not life threatening and were treated at the scene by trauma doctors, after what was described as the most serious accident at Alton Towers since the popular theme park opened in 1980. Two women were transferred to the Royal Stoke University hospital and two men were taken to hospitals in Coventry and Warwickshire. 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. Danny Simm, a radio presenter on 96.5 Bolton FM who appears to have been at the amusement park, tweeted: “People unconscious, knocked out. Blood everywhere. It really was shocking. Air ambulances landing now, people still stuck.” Pinterest Aerial footage from the scene of a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers amusement park. Four ambulances and four air ambulances attended the scene – among 40 emergency vehicles in total – after receiving a 999 call at 2.09pm.

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. The four most seriously injured were rescued first. The Alton Towers spokeswoman said a full investigation would take place into the accident. Ian Crabbe, Alton Towers’ divisional director, said in a statement: “May I first say that my colleagues and I are devastated by what has happened here today, and our only priority at this time is to work with the emergency services to get the 16 people affected off the ride safely, and most importantly those who are injured are being cared for. “Our concern is with and for them and for their safety, and all our thoughts and efforts are focused on them.” Alton Towers’ owner, Merlin Entertainments, saw its share price plunge when it emerged the Smiler had been involved in a collision. Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share after opening this morning at 462.6p a share.

The £18m Smiler ride, described as “the world’s first 14-looping rollercoaster” on its official website, opened in May 2013. The website reads : “Not for the faint-hearted, this new ride at Alton Towers features a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near misses designed to mess with your mind.” It has been closed twice before because of technical issues. Some people said they had experienced problems on the ride just hours before the crash. Witnesses posted pictures of the aftermath of the collision as people were evacuated from the rollercoaster. Helen Critchley (@princesshelen15) @altontowers not what I expected to see today.. 2 carriage crashed into each other on the Smiler!!! #notgood ! pic.twitter.com/aX8mBDaX7K June 2, 2015 Tom Whelton, who was on the Smiler hours before the crash, said his carriage got stuck on the rollercoaster’s first hill. “They sent a test car down behind us anyway, which I thought was a bit strange, but I guess that’s just procedure for them to do that,” he said.

“We went halfway across the park and then we heard a big bang. After that, we didn’t really know what it was, then it started filtering through that something bad had happened. Then we were queueing up for another rollercoaster and an air ambulance flew over and news started filtering through and all the Alton Towers staff were evacuating the area.” Ben Richardson, who posted pictures on Twitter of the crashed rollercoaster, told the BBC the collision sounded “like car crash – it was very full on”. He said there appeared to have been problems with the ride on Tuesday morning. “When we went on, when we were queuing, it said: ‘We’ve got a couple of technical difficulties’ and then probably 10 or 15 minutes later the ride carried on. Later in the day we ate lunch and that was when the incident occurred.” Richardson said the first responders appeared to be more concerned with clearing people away from the ride than reaching the injured passengers. Leigh Curtis, who was sitting in a nearby bar when the accident happened, described “quite an eerie feel” in the aftermath of the collision. “There’s not a lot of people talking,” he said.

“People just standing around in bewilderment really.” Another Twitter user posted a video appearing to show a third air ambulance arriving at the amusement park. Lauren (@Laurenletitia13) #altontowers For saying it's only technical issues, this is the third air ambulance to land.. Oh dear Alton Towers. pic.twitter.com/6torYa0DzW June 2, 2015 There has been a series of incidents on the ride since it opened in May 2013. Sixteen people had to be rescued after it broke down during a press launch in its opening month. 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. In November 2013, guide wheels fell off the ride and hit four people in the front carriage, once again forcing it to close.

Merlin sentenced after managers were criticised for ‘catastrophic failure to assess risk’ at £18m Staffordshire ride Published: 27 Sep 2016 Merlin Entertainments faces multimillion-pound fine after admitting it breached health and safety laws Published: 22 Apr 2016 Vicky Balch, who had her right leg amputated after rollercoaster accident, walks with prosthesis on live TV Published: 12 Apr 2016 Video shows moment carriage filled with people collides at high speed with empty train on rollercoaster last year Published: 26 Sep 2016 'Crash' involving Alton Towers Smiler rollercoaster | Central - ITV News 2 June 2015 at 2:53pm 'Crash' involving Alton Towers Smiler rollercoaster The Smiler at Alton Towers Credit: ITV News Central Alton Towers is dealing with an incident on its Smiler Rollercoaster at the theme park in Staffordshire. People currently at the park have said on Twitter of hearing of a loud bang with people stuck on the ride. More to follow...

Alton Towers to partially reopen as litigation over rollercoaster crash begins | UK news | The Guardian UK news Alton Towers to partially reopen as litigation over rollercoaster crash begins £18m Smiler ride at Merlin Entertainments theme park to remain closed for ‘the foreseeable future’ as investigations continue ahead of busy summer season Alton Towers reopens to the public for the first time since Tuesday’s rollercoaster accident UK news Alton Towers to partially reopen as litigation over rollercoaster crash begins £18m Smiler ride at Merlin Entertainments theme park to remain closed for ‘the foreseeable future’ as investigations continue ahead of busy summer season Monday 8 June 2015 04.12 EDT First published on Sunday 7 June 2015 13.20 EDT Close This article is 1 year old Alton Towers is to reopen on Monday following the rollercoaster crash that has prompted calls for heightened safety reviews at all UK theme parks ahead of the busy summer season. The site’s owner Merlin Entertainments has closed down three rollercoasters at two other amusement parks as it deals with the fallout from last Tuesday’s collision, which left four people seriously injured.

Dr Tony Cox, a former Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advisory committee chairman, said there needed to be a review of practice at amusement parks after the worst accident in Alton Towers’ 35-year history. “I would be amazed if [theme park owners] weren’t using their industry contacts to find out what had happened as far as they possibly can,” he said. Three more rollercoasters shut down at parks run by Alton Towers owner Read more The park will reopen at 10am although the £18m Smiler ride will be closed “for the foreseeable future” on the orders of the HSE, which on Friday moved the two carriages involved in the crash to its laboratory in Buxton, Derbyshire, for further investigation. Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said: “The accident last Tuesday was a terrible event for everyone involved. We are very aware of the impact it will have on those involved and we are doing all we can to provide our support to those injured and their families. “We closed the park immediately whilst preliminary investigations took place and to give our staff time to come to terms with the accident and its aftermath.

In recent days our management team have been engaged in a thorough review of our operating and safety procedures before making this decision. “Alton Towers has a long record of safe operation and as we reopen, we are committed to ensuring that the public can again visit us with confidence.” A spokesman for the park said that said that X-Sector, the high-octane section of that park where the Smiler is based, would remain closed until further notice. Another ride, Spinball, will stay closed until “enhanced safety protocols” are introduced, the theme park said. Pinterest Aerial footage from the scene of the rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers last Tuesday This week Alton Towers’s legal team are due to meet lawyers acting for student Victoria Balch, 20, who underwent surgery at the weekend after sustaining serious leg injuries in the 20mph collision. Paul Paxton, a partner at Stewarts Law, said he would be claiming substantial damages to help Balch recover from her potentially life-changing injuries. A spokeswoman for the law firm said on Sunday that they were “keen to get discussions on the go as soon as possible”, but no date had yet been set for the meeting.

Merlin Entertainments, which has already lost a reported £3m since closing its doors last Tuesday, could face a hefty legal bill over the accident, which came as millions of thrill-seekers planned to visit theme parks over the busy summer holiday season. Cox, the former HSE advisory committee chairman, said the full details of what caused the crash may only be known once litigation begins. However, he said other major UK theme parks would be examining the case and considering reviewing their own safety protocols. Asked whether there should be an industry-wide safety review, he said: “Certainly, there does. Anyone who is operating rides like that [the Smiler], they know each other as rivals and competitors and they know each other from their participation in various sector-related bodies that deal with all aspects of that business, including safety. Within those circles, there will be huge interest from all of them about what has happened [at Alton Towers],” he said. “If you haven’t had the accident yourself, you want all that information and you’re going to make sure you’ve dealt with it. But you’re not going to go out there and raise your head above the parapet and say anything – you’re not under any obligation to do so.

You can’t assume from that that they are not doing anything. “I would be amazed if they weren’t using their industry contacts to find out what had happened as far as they possibly can. They can just call HSE and say, ‘Is there anything we need to know?’ and HSE will ... make sure the whole industry knows. That’s part of their role. It’s unthinkable that they wouldn’t do that.” The Saw ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey and the Dragon’s Fury and Rattlesnake rollercoasters at Chessington World of Adventures, also in Surrey, have also been shut down by Merlin Entertainments, which owns all three parks. There have been 32 recorded accidents over three years at Alton Towers, it emerged on Saturday, from a guest being rushed to hospital after hearing her “neck crack” on the 60mph Rita ride to an employee falling into a water trough. The incidents were disclosed by the HSE in response to a freedom of information request by the Birmingham Evening Mail . Drayton Manor theme park, which is also located in Staffordshire, defended its safety procedures and said its rides underwent a “rigorous” daily inspection.

“The health and safety of our visitors is of paramount importance,” said David Bromilow, Drayton Manor’s operations manager. “All of our rides comply with health and safety requirements for safe operation, maintenance and inspection processes. In addition, each ride has specific risk assessments to ensure that these processes are current.” He added: “As well as the daily assessment and testing, all rides are verified regularly by independent inspectors in compliance with the HSE guidelines for safe operation. “As an industry, we have an enviable health and safety record in the UK and it is standard practice to be meticulous where testing is concerned.” The International Association of Amusement Parks (IAAPA) suggests that the odds of sustaining an injury at theme park is one in 9 million.

Alton Towers to reopen to the public after rollercoaster crash - Telegraph UK News Alton Towers to reopen to the public after rollercoaster crash Sixteen people in total were injured on The Smiler ride when the carriage they were in collided with another that had come to a halt on the track An ambulance drives past the Smiler ride at Alton Towers in Alton on June 2, 2015 Photo: Darren Staples/Reuters By Telegraph reporter 6:58AM BST 08 Jun 2015 Alton Towers will reopen to the public on Monday after shutting its gates following a rollercoaster crash which saw four people seriously injured. The theme park has been closed since Tuesday, and the chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which owns the park, says it is committed to ensuring people can visit again "with confidence". Sixteen people in total were injured on The Smiler ride when the carriage they were in collided with another that had come to a halt on the track. Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said the incident was a "terrible event" for everyone involved.

He added: "We are very aware of the impact it will have on those involved and we are doing all we can to provide our support to those injured and their families. "We closed the park immediately whilst preliminary investigations took place and to give our staff time to come to terms with the accident and its aftermath. "In recent days our management team have been engaged in a thorough review of our operating and safety procedures before making this decision." However, the X-Sector of the Staffordshire theme park - which houses The Smiler - will remain closed until further notice to allow the Health and Safety Executive access to the ride for investigations. The Smiler ride at Alton Towers Resort (AP) The Spinball ride will be closed until enhanced safety protocols have been implemented, but Merlin Entertainments said that this would take slightly longer than it had hoped due to the design of the ride. Two rides at other Merlin Entertainments parks, Thorpe Park, and Chessington World of Adventures - both in Surrey - will also remain closed until new safety protocols can be implemented. But these are expected to reopen soon.

Alton Towers to remain closed on Sunday, bringing total losses to an estimated £2.5million Merlin is thought to have racked up losses of around £500,000 a day since the incident and it has also faced accusations staff dithered for 10 minutes before making the first 999 call, despite screams of distress from bloodied passengers on board The Smiler. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has removed the carriages involved in the crash and took them to the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton for further analysis. It confirmed evidence gathering by inspectors had finished at the theme park in Staffordshire, and that a Prohibition notice had been served on the rollercoaster stopping its use until action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure. Neil Craig, Head of Operations for HSE in the Midlands said: "The Notice is specific to the 'Smiler' ride and does not affect other rides at the park.

HSE expects the park operator to apply any early learning from the incident to wider risk management at the site." Rollercoasters across Britain shut in the wake of Alton Towers crash over design flaw fears The most seriously injured have been named as Daniel Thorpe, a 27-year-old hotel assistant manager from Buxton in Derbyshire, Vicky Balch, 20, from Leyland in Lancashire, textile design student Joe Pugh, 18, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and his girlfriend, Leah Washington, 17. Ms Balch, suffered potentially life-changing injuries in the crash, and is expected to make a "substantial claim for damages" to support her recovery. Commenting on the latest legal position, Paul Paxton, a partner at Stewarts Law said: "We have contacted the Health and Safety Executive and hope to be able to discuss with Merlin's insurers and their legal team as early as next week." During its close the park had offered guests with pre-booked tickets the option to use their tickets at an alternative attraction. Those with pre-booked tickets were also able to obtain a full refund or alternative dated tickets.

Alton Towers Guilty Over Rollercoaster Crash Weather Alton Towers Guilty Over Rollercoaster Crash A judge warns park owner Merlin it faces a "very large fine" after the crash left five people with serious injuries. 10:19, UK, Friday 22 April 2016 Mail The owner of Alton Towers has pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety rules after a rollercoaster crash - and now faces a "very large fine". Two people had legs amputated after the collision on the Smiler ride in June last year, while three others suffered life-changing injuries. The five victims all attended court to hear Merlin Attractions Ltd indicate a guilty plea to a charge of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Details of the crash and what went wrong were also revealed to the court. Image Caption: Vicky Balch, Leah Washington (C) and Joe Pugh Bernard Thorogood, for the Health and Safety Executive, said its case was that the ride's operatives "overrode" the controlling computer system. In doing so, they failed to spot a stationary train on the track, sending another crashing into it.

Video: Alton Towers: 'No Retribution' Merlin's counsel Simon Antrobus said: "The company is accepting additional reasonable and practicable measures could have been taken to guard against the safety risk that arose on the day." The carriage the injured riders were in collided with a stationary car on the ride. District Judge Jack McGarva, sitting at North Staffordshire justice centre, warned that the company "may be ordered to pay a very large fine". He ordered the case be moved to Stafford Crown Court for sentencing, on a date to be fixed, due to the gravity of the offence. Speaking outside the court, a lawyer for the victims said the guilty plea was "a milestone along the way to psychological rehabilitation". Video: Promotional Video Of 'The Smiler' Paul Paxton said: "Given that such serious injuries could be sustained on a fun day out, it is hardly surprising that a criminal offence was committed. "However, it is comforting for the families that a plea of guilty has been entered rather than the victims having to endure a drawn out trial". The guilty plea comes after an internal investigation by Merlin had already resulted in the company accepting responsibility for the crash.

It has since cut jobs at Alton Towers, citing a slump in visitor numbers but reopened the Smiler ride last month - nine months after the accident. Bosses said they had "sought to learn every possible lesson to help ensure there is no repeat of what happened". Video: 'There Was An Almighty Bang' Two teenage passengers - Vicky Balch and Leah Washington - each lost a leg in the aftermath of the accident. Their carriage collided with a stationary car on the ride. Miss Washington's boyfriend, Joe Pugh, broke both knees and endured extensive hand injuries, Daniel Thorpe suffered a fractured leg and a punctured lung, and mother-of-two Chanda Singh suffered internal bleeding. Top Stories Alton Towers rollercoaster crash causes Merlin profit warning - BBC News BBC News Alton Towers rollercoaster crash causes Merlin profit warning 27 July 2015 Close share panel Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Sixteen people on the Smiler rollercoaster were injured in the crash on 2 June Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments says the rollercoaster accident at the theme park in June could affect profits by up to £47m.

The accident, which resulted in several people being seriously injured, led to the temporary closure of Alton Towers. Merlin said that the incident had an adverse effect on trading at the start of the important summer period. Profits for the theme parks division in 2015 are expected to be between £40m and £50m, compared with £87m last year. As well as Alton Towers being closed, Merlin suspended advertising for its theme parks, and rides at other sites were also closed temporarily. Merlin said the disruption could continue to affect the profitability of its theme park group in 2016. 'Devastating event' Sixteen people on the Smiler rollercoaster were injured on 2 June when the carriage they were in riding in collided with an empty one that had come to a halt on the track. Leah Washington, 17, had a leg amputated following the accident, while her boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, suffered severe knee injuries. Vicky Balch, 20, also had a leg amputated, while Daniel Thorpe, 27, suffered a broken leg and a punctured lung. The victims received their first compensation payments last month.

All those on the ride will be compensated. Image copyright PA Chief executive Nick Varney said: "The accident at Alton Towers in June was a devastating event, for which we have accepted responsibility and are deeply sorry. "We have been humbled by the grace and fortitude of those who were injured, and their families, and will continue to do whatever we can to support them." Alton Towers could reclaim its position as the UK's favourite theme park, Mr Varley said, but that goal could take between 12 and 18 months to achieve. "There has been a substantial reduction in the visitor numbers at Alton Towers, and to a lesser extent at Thorpe Park," he said. "At the end of the day we have had one accident in the history of this company. I think, hopefully, people believe we have been responsible in the way we have acted." Merlin said it had implemented additional safety protocols to prevent a similar accident in the future. The Smiler remains closed, but rides at other parks that had been suspended are back in operation.

Image copyright PA Analysis: Simon Jack, business presenter The owner of Alton Towers, Merlin Entertainments, has started assessing the financial cost of the serious accident which resulted in life-changing injuries for five people and closed the park for five days. The financial hit to the theme park division of Merlin is enormous. Operating profits of nearly £90m could be cut to half that. On the overall group, which also owns Madame Tussauds and Sea Life, the impact is lower but today's announcement still amounts to a significant profit warning and shares fell 8% in early trading. Perhaps most telling was the company's admission that the negative overhang from this incident may carry on into 2016. There is a received wisdom in business that people's memories are short. Today's announcement shows that Merlin are not banking on that and realise there is a significant job yet to be done in reassuring rattled thrill seekers. Shares fall The profit downgrade was bigger than expected, said Panmure Gordon analyst Anna Barnfather.

Despite the fall in profits from its theme parks division, Merlin said that savings and better-than-expected trading across the wider group meant that annual underlying pre-tax profit would be "broadly in line" with the £249m posted in 2014. Analysts had expected the company to make profits of £273m this year. Shares fell as much as 8% in the first few minutes of trade, although they recovered to close down by 4.2% at 405.20p. The shares have risen by about 20% since Merlin floated in November 2013. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Eye in London is another Merlin attraction Ahead of first-half results due to be issued on Thursday, Merlin said that underlying pre-tax profit was up £9m to £49m, with revenue rising 2.8% on a like-for-like basis, or £31m, to £544m. Revenue from the theme parks division was down 2%. Visitor numbers across its attractions - which include Legoland parks, Sea Life, and Madame Tussauds - rose 200,000 to 27.7 million.

Merlin said the weak euro had affected visitor numbers at its London attractions, such as The Eye, because the capital was a more expensive compared with the Continent. Rollercoaster crash victim 'angry' with Alton Towers - ITV News 14 June 2015 at 10:23am Rollercoaster crash victim 'angry' with Alton Towers The boyfriend of a teenager who had her leg amputated after The Smiler ride crash said Alton Towers should have known there was something wrong with the ride. Joe Pugh, who was on the rollercoaster with his girlfriend, Leah Washington, at Alton Towers, was giving his views nearly two weeks after the crash that left his knees shattered. A student who suffered life-changing injuries in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash has had her right leg amputated, her lawyers have said. Victoria Balch. Credit: Facebook This morning, my client, Vicky Balch, has had her right leg amputated below the knee. Vicky has had a long and incredibly painful fight to retain her leg. Regrettably, her bravery has not been rewarded. The step was taken to remove the leg following seven bouts of surgery.

Further surgery will be required in the immediate future, which may involve a more acute amputation. – Paul Paxton, Stewarts Law Joe Pugh and his girlfriend of two months Leah Washington. Credit: ITV News Alton Towers has made its first payouts to the victims of the Smiler crash. Leah Washington, 17, who had to have part of her leg amputated, could receive several million pounds in compensation. Her boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, shattered both kneecaps in the rollercoaster smash last month. Dancer Victoria Balch, 20, has had extensive surgery for her "life-changing" leg injuries. While her boyfriend Daniel Thorpe suffered a fractured leg and punctured lung. Lawyers representing the victims said the money would help with their "rehabilitation" as well as four others who were also injured. Paul Paxton, Head of Personal Injury at law firm Stewart Law, said: "The families are satisfied that no expense is being spared in the investigation into what caused the accident on the Smiler ride at Alton Towers." He also met with Health and Safety inspectors who said the ride is likely to remain closed for a significant period of time and indeed "may never open again".

Alton Towers: Air & Runaway Train 'to run tomorrow as usual' Alton Towers has confirmed two of its popular rides - Air and Runaway Train - will be open and operational as usual tomorrow. It comes after the Runaway Train opened late this morning, remaining closed until 11.55am, due to what a theme park spokeswoman said was a "late handover" from the technical services team, who handle all pre-opening checks. Air was closed briefly while one of the trains was replaced Credit: PA Air was closed for 16 minutes while staff took one of the trains off the ride and replaced it with another. The ride was also closed for two to three minutes at a time later in the day after a guest was taken ill, and to confiscate a camera from another visitor. Spokeswoman Liz Greenwood told ITV News that any delays now being experienced were within the usual expected level. It is natural that given the current circumstances, our guests are more focused on any minor delay or technical stoppage, but all of the rides undergo comprehensive pre-opening checks and any delays that we are experiencing now are within our expected level. All issues will be dealt with according to our stringent processes and rides will reopen as appropriate.

The Mine Train didn’t close once it had opened and Air was closed for a maximum of 16minutes. Both rides will run tomorrow as usual. – Liz Greenwood, Alton Towers spokeswoman Two more rollercoasters at Alton Towers have been closed after a large metal clip was feared to have dropped off one of the rides. Air and Runaway Mine Train were reportedly shut just minutes after the Staffordshire theme park opened. Two more rides have been shut at Alton Towers after last week's Smiler crash. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Archive/Press Association Images Air opened in March 2002 and the Runaway Mine Train, which opened in 1992, is oldest ride at the theme park. Alton Towers confirmed the rides had closed for "technical issues." "All issues will be dealt with according to our stringent processes and rides will reopen as appropriate", a spokeswoman said. Last week, sixteen people were injured after a crash on the Smiler ride. Leah Washington,17, was one of four people who were seriously injured, and had to have her left leg amputated above the knee.

Families of crash victims welcome admission of liability from Alton Towers The families of three people injured in The Smiler rollercoaster crash have welcomed the admission of liability from Alton Towers today. Victoria Balch, Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were among those injured in the crash at the theme park last Tuesday. Merlin Entertainments, which owns Alton Towers, today said it accepts full responsibility for the crash and that all those injured will receive compensation. Acting for the families of those injured, Paul Paxton, Head of Personal Injury at Stewarts Law, said: “I will be meeting with the solicitors acting for Merlin and its insurers this week to discuss the early release of money to assist with financial hardship and rehabilitation.” Friend of injured Alton Towers teen: Nothing will stop Leah A friend of Leah Washington has said her injuries will not stop the teenager continuing with her life after it was confirmed the 17-year-old lost her left leg in The Smiler crash at Alton Towers. Alex Ashmore said he was "devastated" for Leah, who has had her left leg amputated above the knee, and her boyfriend Joe Pugh, who suffered two broken knees, after they were involved in the crash on their first date.

But he said the injuries wouldn't stop Miss Washington, who he said had been looking at going to university and celebrating her 18th birthday. Alton Towers accepts full responsibility for Smiler crash Alton Towers has said it accepts "full responsibility" for The Smiler rollercoaster crash and will provide compensation for all 16 people injured. Merlin Entertainments, which owns the theme park, said it had written letters which were hand-delivered to the 16 people or to their families. It said compensation claims will be dealt with "swiftly and sensitively". 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.

– Merlin Entertainments Alton Towers crash: Four teenagers seriously hurt as The Smiler ride carriages collide - as it happened - Telegraph UK News Alton Towers crash: Four teenagers seriously hurt as The Smiler ride carriages collide - as it happened Four people badly hurt and among 16 trapped on The Smiler rollercoaster after collision between two carriages - latest updates By Danny Boyle , and Leon Watson 8:30PM BST 02 Jun 2015 • Two carriages collide on The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers • Sixteen people trapped on ride amid emergency rescue • Four teenagers seriously hurt, West Midlands Ambulance Service says • The Smiler ride holds Guiness World Record for most loops • It has been shut down twice since opening in 2013 over safety Latest We are wrapping up over live coverage of the Alton Towers crash for today. The latest news we have to hand can be found here . 20:00 Latest update: The ride has been fully evacuated with four teenagers being taken to hospital Two couples suffered "significant crush-type lower limb injuries", which were described as critical but not life threatening.

An Alton Towers spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the ride has now been fully evacuated and those with serious injuries have been taken to hospital. "The evacuation was completed by 6.35pm." Alton Towers have set up a help line for for anybody concerned about relatives affected by the incident on The Smiler Please contact 0800 056 0154 for more information. For anybody concerned about relatives affected by the incident on The Smiler today please contact 0800 056 0154 for more information. — Alton Towers Resort (@altontowers) June 2, 2015 19:35 Incidents on rollercoasters at theme parks are rare but they have happened in the past. The £18 million ride The Smiler was temporarily closed in November 2013 after plastic guard wheels came loose and hit front-row riders. The 14-loop rollercoaster, which took more than eight months to build, was shut for four days in July that year after a piece of track became dislodged, and was closed again for five days the following month because of another technical issue.

Incident at Alton Towers – additional picture from the scene pic.twitter.com/YYGgeU0eaZ — WMAS (@OFFICIALWMAS) June 2, 2015 In July 2011, a number of people on a ride at M&D's theme park at Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell, Lanarkshire, were stranded for more than eight hours when it came to a halt 60 feet above the ground. In June 2006, firefighters had to rescue eight children and four adults trapped 40ft above the ground on the Terror Rack ride at the Pleasure Island park in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. It took the fire crews about an hour and a half to bring the people down to the ground after a safety device kicked in and halted the attraction. In July 2005, four people were injured when a car came off its track at Ocean Beach amusement park in Rhyl, north Wales, when they were hit by another car. 19:00 The resue continues on The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers. The people injured on the ride have significant injuries but they are not life threatening.

The four injured are two couples in their 20s, two men and two women. A ramp was built to help emergency services reach the occupants of the ride, who were approximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of around 45 degrees. 18.41 Here is more of what was said to the media just now. Ian Crabbe, Alton Towers divisional director, said: "May I first say that my colleagues and I are devastated by what has happened here today, and our only priority at this time is to work with the emergency services to get the 16 people affected off the ride safely, and most importantly those who are injured are being cared for. "Our concern is with and for them and for their safety, and all our thoughts and efforts are focused on them." Mr Crabbe said that the park's first responder team were at the scene "in minutes" with the emergency services attending shortly afterwards. He added: "A full investigation is under way, and representatives of the Health and Safety Executive are already on site and working with us." 18.38 News from the press conference: the injuries suffered by the four casualties are "significant, but not life-threatening".

They have now been taken to hospital, and all but two of the other passengers are now down. The emergency services seem to think this incident is coming to an end. 18.20 More eyewitnesses describe what happened: 18.14 A joint press conference with the emergency services is expected to be held in the next few minutes. Hopefully, more details will be given on the condition of the casualties. Meanwhile, Shaun Hampton, 20, who was visiting the park with friends, said: "I was on the Smiler an hour before it happened. "When I saw the helicopters flying over at about 3pm I knew something was serious but when I heard how bad it was I couldn't believe it." Bramley Sunnyside Junior School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, also announced they had cancelled a trip to Alton Towers for today. Taking to their Twitter account, the school said: "Due to a serious accident at Alton Towers, Y5 visit tomorrow has been postponed. "Children's health and safety is paramount." 17.40 Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 after the crash, with its shares down 3 per cent.

The firm, which is based in Poole, Dorset, runs Alton Towers since buying out previous owner the Tussauds Group in May 2007. It is the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator behind Disney and runs 105 attractions, 11 hotels and three holiday villages in 23 countries. 17.31 This aerial footage shows emergency services at The Smiler as the operation continues. 17.21 The first picture of rescuers trying to free people from The Smiler ride has emerged. It looks like a dangerous operation. 17.18 James Quinn, the Telegraph's Group Business Editor, has just reported that the Alton Towers crash wiped £161 million off the market value of Merlin by the close of trading. Shares closed down 3.5pc at 444.3p. 17.15 Our Chief Reporter Gordon Rayner here with more: I have just come off the phone to a spokesman for Alton Towers, who said they were unaware of the multitude of reports of technical problems on the Smiler shortly before the crash. The spokesman would only say that a "full investigation" would be carried out. By whom?

"I don't know." 17.10 This footage is believed to have been shot moments after the accident. Beware the strong language. @JamieSmith_YT I don't use Twitter if I can help it, today is an exception #smiler #AltonTowers pic.twitter.com/Co7wxcDVui — Skootay (@skootay) June 2, 2015 17.02 Another Alton Towers visitor Jack Carver, 33, who also witnessed the aftermath of the smash, said: "It was like a horror movie hearing those screams. "There was pure terror in their voices. Both in the air and on the ground. "It reminded me of that film Final Destination where the rollercoaster comes off the tracks. But I never thought I'd see similar in real life. "Some of the riders you could still see moving, others were still. It was really scary. "I heard it happen and there was this ear-splitting crunch as the carriages went into each other. "It must have gone into it with some speed.

I will never forget that sound and I just pray everyone is alive." Spent 2 hours in the queue for the smiler on wed due to technical issues. Sat on the front aswell! Got a bit lucky! — Adam Winton (@Padstaah7) June 2, 2015 Another witness Ellis Dyson, 23, who was in the queue for the ride, added: "The ride was delayed because of a technical fault for a while and then the ride came back on "They sent a carriage without any people on it first and then sent a carriage with people on and that was the one that crashed. "The platform of the ride where we were vibrated and a massive loud crash." 16.56 Alton Towers has set up a helpline for concerned relatives on 0800 230 0770. 16.54 Sophie Underwood, who was waiting to board the ride, told the BBC that the ride had been experiencing issues earlier in the day. She said: "They had made quite a few announcements to say there were technical difficulties. They were sending coaches around with nobody on them.

"And then they said they had sorted it out so they decided to put people on the coach." Ms Underwood described a carriage carrying passengers crashing in to another that was stationary at the top of the ride. "It was quite scary. There was a big crash and as soon as everybody heard the crash everybody started walking back and leaving the ride," she said. 16.47 West Midlands Ambulance service have told the BBC that the first of the four most seriously injured casualties has just been evacuated, but the others remain trapped. — Josh Atlas (@JoshuaAtlas) June 2, 2015 16.46 Merlin, Alton Towers' owner, sees its shares drop 3.5 per cent today as serious incident occurs on its 'Smiler' ride. Wiping £161m off its value. 16.44 An Alton Towers spokeswoman attempts to throw some light on what has happened, and confirms a "full investigation" will be held. She says: "The emergency services including the air ambulance are now in attendance and are assisting resort staff as they work to evacuate those 16 people still on the ride.

— Josh Atlas (@JoshuaAtlas) June 2, 2015 "We can confirm that four guests have sustained serious injuries, and they are being treated at the scene until they can be evacuated. "There will be a full investigation once all the guests have been evacuated, which is our priority." 16.42 Our correspondent Justin Huggler has spoken to Smiler manufacturer Gerstlauer's head office in Münsterhausen, Germany. Surprising as it may seem, they told him they had not heard anything about the accident and didn't even know it had happened, his call was the first they'd had. They asked him to call back tomorrow and said they wouldn't be in a position to comment before then. 16.27 More from the ambulance service, it says a platform has been built so emergency services can reach the occupants on the ride. They are approximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees.

Incident at Alton Towers Resort - update 2 pic.twitter.com/UoqAW5opmx — WMAS (@OFFICIALWMAS) June 2, 2015 A spokesman added: "Our HART paramedics, doctors, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Alton Towers’ rope rescue staff are working at height to carefully release and treat the four seriously injured teenagers. The 12 other occupants on the ride are said to have suffered minor injuries and it’s hoped that they will be discharged from the scene. "Once released from the ride, all four seriously injured teenagers will be airlifted to major trauma centres at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency treatment." 16.17 The West Midlands Ambulance Service has been called to the scene, and has now made a statement. It says: "Four teenagers, two males and two females, suffered serious leg injuries in the incident and are receiving treatment as we speak. As former @altontowers employee and serving @OFFICIALWMAS Paramedic I know both organisations will be working hard to assist those injured.

— Jack Lewis (@wmasjacklewis) June 2, 2015 "The other twelve occupants of the ride are not thought to be seriously injured. We still have a number of resources at the scene." Steve Parry, a spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said he was unable to confirm reports that one person had died. 16.15 More reports from witnesses are coming through. James Gay, another visitor to the amusement park who saw the aftermath, questioned why the ride was still open after it had been hit by technical glitches throughout the day. He tweeted: "People were stuck on The Smiler a couple of hours ago, they let the ride stay open and two carriages collide. "One carriage empty and one full. One person looks badly injured at the front. "Alton Towers, when are you closing this ride down for good? The ride had more than one problem today, I wish them all a recovery.

It wasn't a nice experience at all." He added: "It was awful to see, I wanted to climb down and do what I could to help but the response time from the professionals was very quick." 16.08 It was also reported in April 2014 that terrified rollercoaster riders were left trapped around 100 feet in the air after The Smiler ground to a halt at the top of a near vertical section. One witness said: "I looked up to see a carriage with about 12 people on board stuck on the top peak of the ride, hanging backwards slightly. "I could even see the girls' hair in the back of the carriage hanging back over the back edge. It looked terrifying. "There were people screaming. It must have been a terrifying ordeal for the passengers in the carriage. They must have been on that peak for at least 20 minutes.

"There was an announcement saying 'there are technical difficulties, and it will be back and running shortly, thank you for your patience' then suddenly there was a screech and the carriage began to slowly reverse back down the vertical section of track." 16.04 In another previous scare, 16 journalists were left stranded on the Smiler for around 30 minutes during a preview ride before it opened to the public. They were left dangling after the 50mph rollercoaster ground to a halt at a 50 degree angle. 15.58 The Smiler ride was manufactured by the German firm Gerstlauer, which built a rollercoaster carriage involved in a fatal accident in Texas in 2013, as Gordon Rayner reports. Rosa Esparza, 52, fell out of one of the cars on the Texas Giant rollercoaster at the Six Flags theme park in Arlington. Six Flags and Gerstlauer both reached a financial settlement with Mrs Esparza's family, though the theme park and the manufacturer each blamed each other for the tragedy.

Six Flags claimed the cars, built by Gerstlauer to a design specified by Six Flags, were defective and dangerous, but Gerstlauer said the design was sound but that staff at the theme park had not properly secured a safety bar that keeps riders securely in position. 15.53 Danny Simm, a musician and songwriter who is also a radio presenter on 96.5 Bolton FM, who witnessed the aftermath of the accident, said that a number of people appeared to be badly injured as he described how "people had faces smashed in and blood everywhere". @livviixo people unconscious on the ride with faces smashed in and blood everywhere... I think it will be closed for a while — Danny Simm (@DannySimm) June 2, 2015 15.45 Visitors to Alton Towers reported on social media that the ride had broken down earlier today. Lucy Farrugia said: "Smiler broke down when I was on it this morning and now it's crashed. Hope everyone on it is OK, saw the air ambulance arrive." 15.38 The Midlands Air Ambulance that has arrived is carrying a trauma doctor on board.

Four ambulances and several senior paramedic managers have also arrived on the scene to deal with potential casualties. 15.30 Today's accident involved a moving carriage carrying 16 passengers and a stationary carriage, which was empty. An Alton Towers spokeswoman said: "The resort's fully-qualified first responders were on the scene immediately to assist with the evacuation which is ongoing, and the area has been closed to allow for access to emergency services vehicles. "To ensure the safe and timely evacuation of guests, a platform is being constructed. This will take a few minutes but will enable us to proceed more quickly. "There will be a full investigation once we have recovered the guests, who are our priority." @Pack_Leader1 Hi Pack, we are working on evacuation as quickly and safely as possible. All the appropriate services are in place. Thank you. — Alton Towers Resort (@altontowers) June 2, 2015 15.27 The £18 million ride, which opened in May 2013, has been closed down twice before because of technical issues.

It is billed as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster and holds the official Guiness World Record for most loops, according to the Alton Towers website. The resort claims that it features "a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near-misses designed to mess with your mind". In July 2013, the Smiler was closed after reports that a bolt was seen to have fallen from the ride. And in November that year, the rollercoaster was closed after plastic guard wheels came loose and hit front row riders. 15.24 Here are two close-up pictures of the crashed carriages, which show how the passengers are trapped. Riders trapped on The Smiler rider at Alton Towers (@_ben_jamming) Riders trapped on The Smiler rider at Alton Towers (@_ben_jamming) 15.20 Here's a picture of an air ambulance that's landed at Alton Towers. A second ambulance is also understood to be heading towards the Staffordshire theme park now. Air ambulance being guarded by Alton Towers staff.

pic.twitter.com/I9XFbaf39e — Leigh Curtis (@LeighCurtis_NP) June 2, 2015 15.17 This point-of-view video shows exactly what it is like to ride The Smiler. 15.14 The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14 loop rollercoaster. It holds the official Guinness World Record for most loops in a rollercoaster, according to the Alton Towers website. The resort claims that it features "a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near misses designed to mess with your mind". 15.10 Ambulance crews were called to the resort at 2.09pm to reports that a carriage had collided with a stationary one. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "There are 16 patients on board The Smiler requiring triage, four of which have reported serious injuries. "Ambulance staff and medics are working quickly with resort staff to gain access to the seriously injured." 15.06 West Midlands Ambulance Service says four people have been seriously injured in the collision.

There has just been a collision on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers. I hope that everyone is okay! pic.twitter.com/WnUeYcrrfc — Jake Barrett (@JakeBarrettFilm) June 2, 2015 14.56 Hello and welcome to our liveblog after 16 people were involved in a crash between two carriages on a ride at Alton Towers theme park. The amusement park said it could not immediately confirm whether or not anyone was injured in the collision on the Smiler attraction. It happened at about 2.20pm on Tuesday. @altontowers not what I expected to see today.. 2 carriage crashed into each other on the Smiler!!! #notgood ! pic.twitter.com/aX8mBDaX7K Alton Towers crash: 4 seriously injured on UK coaster - CNN.com Two women and two men are hospitalized with leg injuries, an ambulance service says The crash took place on "The Smiler" at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire (CNN) A roller coaster car collided with an empty car Tuesday at a UK theme park, leaving four people with serious injuries, officials said.

The crash took place on "The Smiler" at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire. Sixteen people were on the ride, according to a statement from the park. Everyone was evacuated, and the four with serious injuries were transported to hospitals. A statement from the West Midlands Ambulance Service said two men, aged 18 and 27, and two women, aged 17 and 19, suffered serious leg injuries. All four were flown to regional hospitals for treatment. Twelve other people had less serious injuries, the statement said. Read More "This has been a terrible incident and a devastating day for everyone here. I would like to express my sincerest regret and apology to everyone who suffered injury and distress today and to their families," said Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which operates Alton Towers. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, and Varney said a full investigation was underway. "The safety of our visitors is our primary concern. The park will remain closed until we understand better the cause of this dreadful incident," he said. The Health and Safety Executive, the national regulator for fairgrounds, said it was sending a team of specialist inspectors to Alton Towers on Wednesday to start an investigation.

"We will want to determine that those responsible for operating this ride have done what the law requires. We will also ensure that if there are any lessons to be learned they are shared as soon as possible," Neil Craig, the body's regional head of operations, said in a statement. "Although the investigation is in its early stages, we will take action to protect the public if we uncover evidence that could affect the safety of other rides at the park or elsewhere." CNN's Kellie Morgan contributed to this report.

Question: What was the name of the rollercoaster involved in the accident at Alton Towers in June 2015?
Answer: The Smiler