Articles by Bryana Francis,Joel Moore

Health

Alton Towers Smiler victim still longs for 'normal life' after leg amputation

A woman who lost her leg in the horrific Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has vowed to support other amputees. Reflecting on the devastating accident at the Staffordshire theme park 10 years ago, Leah Washington-Pugh admitted she occasionally longs for a "normal life", but feels "lucky to be where I am now". Leah, from Barnsley, and her now-husband Joe Pugh were just 17 and 18 when their Smiler carriage collided with another on June 2, 2015. They were among the 16 victims compensated by operator Merlin for the crash. The 28-year-old said: "It was a massive shock, obviously, for everybody that's experienced not just a traumatic event but then to also become an amputee from the accident as well. "It's a lot to get your head around. I was 17 so I was just starting to go out and be an independent person. And then everything was taken away from me and I was back to relying on my mum and dad to do everything for me or nurses. It was a massive shock. "Obviously there's times now when I just think it's a hassle and I wish I could have my leg back and live a normal life. But I've got to think I'm lucky to be where I am now and embrace every moment and live life to the fullest." Mrs Washington-Pugh is one of six volunteer 'patient ambassadors' who will provide support to those receiving treatment at the new National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), set to open before the end of the year, reports Nottinghamshire Live . The 70-bed £105m NHS facility, located in Leicestershire, will support people recovering from serious injuries and illnesses and is expected to usher in a "new era" of rehabilitation treatment nationwide. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here. "I'll come down to see them and have a chat with them. Be that friendly face," Mrs Washington-Pugh said. "When I was in hospital a girl came to see me who was also an amputee. She gave me an idea of what was coming and what my future would look like. It massively helped in my journey. "It is a minefield. You get chucked in this situation and then you've got to learn from scratch and figure everything out yourself. It's a bit daunting. "Sometimes you have to compromise but you can still live a fulfilled life and go and do things you really want to do." Fellow ambassador Luke Pickering was left paralysed from "head to toe" in 2023 following a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré, a rare neurological condition. The 32-year-old from Nottinghamshire endured three weeks sleeping with his eyes open due to the condition, which affects more than one in 100,000 people worldwide. Luke stayed in hospital for a lengthy 94 days as a result of the condition. He explained: "I was bedbound. It was scary times really, especially when you're used to being the provider and it's all taken away from you. "They couldn't really give you many answers at the time. All that you get told is it's a long journey." Mr Pickering's partner, Alix Simpson, described the ordeal as an incredibly challenging period for the couple, who have two young children. "It was probably the hardest challenge I've had yet in my life. We had a two-year-old son and a daughter who was four months old so it was really difficult," she expressed. Despite still experiencing residual issues such as numb feet, Mr Pickering, a self-employed mechanic, has regained his ability to walk and has since returned to work. He puts his recovery down to the intensity of the physiotherapy he received in the early stages, a method the NRC is pushing.