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| Alton Towers amputee Leah Washington 'recovering well' | Alton Towers amputee Leah Washington 'recovering well' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A girl whose leg was amputated after a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers is recovering well and has stood up for the first time, her brother said. | A girl whose leg was amputated after a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers is recovering well and has stood up for the first time, her brother said. |
| Leah Washington, 17, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was one of five people who suffered severe injuries on the Smiler ride on 2 June. | Leah Washington, 17, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was one of five people who suffered severe injuries on the Smiler ride on 2 June. |
| Her brother Luke said she had initially been put in intensive care and relied on machines to help her breathe. | Her brother Luke said she had initially been put in intensive care and relied on machines to help her breathe. |
| He said the effects of the crash had "not been easy on the family". | He said the effects of the crash had "not been easy on the family". |
| 'Dramatically improved' | 'Dramatically improved' |
| Ms Washington's leg was amputated above the left knee and she also suffered a fractured left hand. | Ms Washington's leg was amputated above the left knee and she also suffered a fractured left hand. |
| Her older brother said her "health and spirits had improved dramatically". | Her older brother said her "health and spirits had improved dramatically". |
| "Yesterday, I walked into the room and she was standing up. It was great," Mr Washington told BBC WM. | |
| He said that compared to last week, when Ms Washington was taken to hospital for the first time, "it's a world of difference". | |
| "She was heavily sedated. She was in intensive care and the machines were keeping her going," he said. | "She was heavily sedated. She was in intensive care and the machines were keeping her going," he said. |
| Ms Washington and three other people were on the front row of a carriage on the ride which hit an empty one, trapping 16 passengers for up to four-and-a-half hours. | Ms Washington and three other people were on the front row of a carriage on the ride which hit an empty one, trapping 16 passengers for up to four-and-a-half hours. |
| All four on the front row suffered severe leg injuries. | All four on the front row suffered severe leg injuries. |
| Mr Washington said a day after the crash his sister was breathing on her own and had made a "rapid recovery". | Mr Washington said a day after the crash his sister was breathing on her own and had made a "rapid recovery". |
| "Each day has gone by and she's improved and improved. | "Each day has gone by and she's improved and improved. |
| "I don't know where she's got this strength from," he said. | "I don't know where she's got this strength from," he said. |
| One Direction has filmed a video message and offered to meet Ms Washington, who is a big fan. | One Direction has filmed a video message and offered to meet Ms Washington, who is a big fan. |
| A campaign to persuade the band to contact her attracted thousands of retweets. | A campaign to persuade the band to contact her attracted thousands of retweets. |
| Mr Washington said the band had given his sister "something to look forward to". | Mr Washington said the band had given his sister "something to look forward to". |
| "I got to tell Leah and she was over the moon," he said. | "I got to tell Leah and she was over the moon," he said. |
| "There was a smile on her face and that's all we wanted." | "There was a smile on her face and that's all we wanted." |
| Ms Washington's friend Sara Stuart, one of those who behind the campaign, said the support from people across the country had been "overwhelming". | Ms Washington's friend Sara Stuart, one of those who behind the campaign, said the support from people across the country had been "overwhelming". |
| "It made me so happy that so many people were supporting one of my closest friends," she said. | "It made me so happy that so many people were supporting one of my closest friends," she said. |
| Ms Stuart described her friend as a "total fan" of One Direction and said staff at the Royal Stoke University Hospital had been "amazing" by putting up posters of the band to help her recover. | Ms Stuart described her friend as a "total fan" of One Direction and said staff at the Royal Stoke University Hospital had been "amazing" by putting up posters of the band to help her recover. |
| Investigation ongoing | Investigation ongoing |
| Ms Washington boyfriend Joe Pugh is also at the hospital and being treated for two broken knees and "extensive" hand injuries. | Ms Washington boyfriend Joe Pugh is also at the hospital and being treated for two broken knees and "extensive" hand injuries. |
| Vicky Balch, 20, from Leyland in Lancashire, has undergone surgery at the same hospital and is in a "serious but stable" condition, according to her family. | Vicky Balch, 20, from Leyland in Lancashire, has undergone surgery at the same hospital and is in a "serious but stable" condition, according to her family. |
| Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton, Derbyshire, was treated at University Hospital Coventry for a collapsed lung and a fractured leg. His condition is described as "serious but stable". | Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton, Derbyshire, was treated at University Hospital Coventry for a collapsed lung and a fractured leg. His condition is described as "serious but stable". |
| 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. | 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. |
| A Health and Safety Executive investigation into the crash is ongoing. | A Health and Safety Executive investigation into the crash is ongoing. |
| Alton Towers reopened to visitors on Monday, although the Smiler ride itself remains closed. | Alton Towers reopened to visitors on Monday, although the Smiler ride itself remains closed. |
| Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns the theme park, said it was the first accident in the company's history and said anyone injured would be compensated. |