Latest news with #AltonTowers
BBC News
an hour ago
- General
- BBC News
Alton Towers 2015 Smiler crash 'like driving into a car at 90mph'
A couple who were seriously injured in the Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers say they can "never move on" from it, but still "couldn't be happier".Now married, Leah Washington-Pugh, then 17 and 18-year-old Joe Pugh, from South Yorkshire, were on a date when their Smiler carriage rammed into another at the Staffordshire theme park, 10 years legs were crushed, forcing the amputation of her left leg above the knee whilst both of Joe's kneecaps were shattered and some of his fingers severed in the crash, they said was "equivalent to driving into a car at 90mph". The crash, on 2 June 2015, led to operator Merlin being fined £5m, with compensation paid to the 16 victims. Speaking through their legal representatives, the pair said despite going through some dark times they had "definitely come a long way" since the the day, the couple said they had made a beeline for the ride as soon as they had entered the park. Technical difficulties had delayed them getting on, but "I never thought anything of it," said Leah. After eventually setting off, their carriage had "gone around a corner and crashed straight into the empty cart," she explained. "I think if I remember rightly if you compare it to a car accident it was the equivalent of driving into a car at 90 miles and hour, it was pretty severe," added Joe. "And then I looked down at my legs and realised that something wasn't right," said Leah. "I looked at Joe and Joe's little finger was hanging off." Stranded on the ride for about four hours, she credits emergency workers for saving her life. "The air ambulance was flying in blood for me because I was just losing that much," she said. "If it wasn't for the air ambulance and other services on the day I know I wouldn't be here today." 'Learn to live again' Following her rescue, Leah spent five days in intensive care and was in hospital for eight weeks. After being discharged "navigating life in normal surroundings was quite difficult at the start," she said. "We had to learn not only how to walk again and live again, but how to build a relationship again with each other," added Joe. The couple said supporting each other through their recovery had been "really important"."Yes, our injuries were there and everything else around us was going off, but we still had that relationship and friendship and that got us through everything." "Fast forward ten years we're both really happy," continued Joe. "We're now married, we're almost a year into us marriage, we've got a beautiful home together we couldn't be happier." The crash was "utterly shocking" and "unlike anything that had ever happened the world over," according to one industry expert. Vicky Balch, of Leyland, Lancashire, also needed a partial leg amputation after the crash. "Knowing quite a bit about the theme park industry, it was a shock as to how it could have happened and what would have been the cause," said European Coaster Club journalist Marcus Gaines."The incident attracted worldwide attention which shows how rare and unusual it was and what a major incident it was," he added. Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd admitted breaches of the Health and Safety Act in what bosses called "the most serious incident" in Alton Towers' the fine on Merlin, Judge Michael Chambers QC said the crash had been foreseeable, but accepted the company which owns Alton Towers had subsequently taken full and extensive steps to remedy the problems that led to it happening. 'Unprecedented accident' Mr Gaines added that at the time the UK was recognised as one of the leading experts in amusement park safety. "Lots of other countries don't have any real regulation about ride safety," he said. He said safety measures put in place since the crash included visual checks where staff physically inspect the entire length of the track to ensure it is clear."We've had this horrific accident, but it is unprecedented that that accident happened," Mr Gaines continued."I think the fact that we haven't seen anything like that before, and we've not seen anything like it in the 10 years since, shows what high standards we do have in the UK." Reflecting on a decade since the accident Leah said: "You've always got to find the positive in the negative and just got to grab life, because it's so precious, and make the most of it".The couple are using the anniversary to host a ball to support the Staffordshire Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the LimbBo Foundation, a charity which supports limb-different accident was "tragic," Leigh added, but it has also "fetched a lot of happiness and experiences that we would never have had." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Four raced to hospital after car crashed outside Alton Towers with air ambulance scrambled to scene
FOUR people have been rushed to hospital after a car was involved in a crash at Alton Towers. Emergency crews including an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene of the one-vehicle smash on the entryway to the major theme park this morning. 2 One man was quickly flown to Royal Stoke University Hospital suffering from "potentially serious injuries", while three other men, who sustained minor injuries, were taken to the same hospital by ambulance. The first call came in shortly before 11am today, West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed. It then deployed an ambulance and paramedic officer, alongside a helicopter from the Midlands Air Ambulance at Cosford. A spokesperson for the trust said: "We were called to reports of a one car RTC at a location off Farley Lane in Alton at 10.55am. "We sent an ambulance, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and two Community First Responders to the scene. "On arrival, crews found four men. The first of whom, a passenger, was treated for potentially serious injuries and conveyed by air ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital. "The three other patients were treated for minor injuries and conveyed by land ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.' More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. 2
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UK Theme Park Awards nominations open with new categories
NOMINATIONS have opened for this year's UK Theme Park Awards. The public can nominate their favourite parks, rides and attractions at until Tuesday, June 10. The awards, organised by aim to recognise the best in the theme park industry. There are 22 categories this year, including Best Customer Service and Best Value. New categories include Best Use of IP in an Attraction and Best Queue Line Experience or Pre-Show. The public nominations, along with input from an expert judging panel, will form a shortlist ahead of a public vote later this year. READ MORE: Disney to build latest theme park in the United Arab Emirates The major contenders for this year's awards include Alton Towers and Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire and Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey. Other theme parks expected to receive multiple nominations include Adventure Island in Essex, BeWILDerwood in Cheshire and Norfolk, Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight and Crealy in Devon. There are also categories for content creators, including Best Established Content Creator and Best Developing Content Creator. Lawrence Roots, founder of said: "With more than 360,000 public votes last year, the popularity of the awards continues to grow every year, and they are a great way to celebrate the very best UK theme parks."
The Sun
18-05-2025
- The Sun
I've saved £350 on days out and holidays in the first three months of Sun Club – here's how you can do the same
THERE are huge savings to be had on days out and holidays if Sun Club members use their perks wisely - here's what you need to know to make membership work for you. I signed up to Sun Club for just £12 for the year in mid-February and have already saved almost £350 in the first three months. 7 7 I claimed free theme park tickets, booked a bargain caravan break and bagged a pair of darts tickets. And I haven't even used all the incredible offers yet, as there's more Superdays at the likes of SEA LIFE, Warwick Castle, the London Eye and Cadbury World to come. I reckon I'm on track to save more than £1,000 over my first year. Sun Superdays I've been using Sun Superdays for theme parks tickets like Alton T owers Resort for years and I actually think the current offer under Sun Club is better than anything I've seen before. There are no booking fees and lots of free dates in the school holidays and at weekends, which have been a struggle to get in the past. We've already had a great day out at Alton Towers Resort on a school inset day, which would have cost £58 for two people if I'd booked online in advance instead of using my free tickets. I've also booked Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park during the summer holidays, which both would have been more than £65 for two tickets without the Sun Club offer. My top tip for is to get online on the day that booking opens for each offer with a few dates that you can do, in case your first choice is already taken. Sometimes you can get to the front of the virtual queue quickly and book your tickets straight away, giving you the pick of the dates. Other times, you'll need to wait a while as there are lots of people all trying to make the most of the offer. It's taken me around an hour to get through before, but I still got summer holiday tickets free, so it's well worth the wait. Once you've got your booking code, you can go to the theme park calendar and see which dates still have free tickets and which ones you have to pay for. Check out Sundays if all the free school holiday tickets have already gone. WHAT IS SUN SUPERDAYS? Sun Superdays is The Sun's exclusive partnership with Merlin Entertainments, giving Sun readers the chance to get FREE or highly discounted tickets to 11 of their top UK attractions - including Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, London Eye and many more. And as a Sun Club member, you can get automatic access to these great deals - without the need to collect Sun Savers codes - just head to The Sun Club Offers & Competitions section, where each month you'll find an exclusive Sun Superdays offer waiting to be redeemed. This month, you can book tickets to Warwick Castle. Booking opens at 11am on Wednesday, May 21. Holidays From £9.50 per person 7 When it comes to the Hols From £9.50 deal, Sun Club members could book a day early in the April promotion, so I bagged a brilliant break in Norfolk for a May weekend for just £130 for six people. The same caravan booked direct with the holiday park would have been £200. We've had some great bargain breaks over the years. Nowadays, UK chains like Park Holidays and Lyons take part and you can also go to caravan parks in Europe for a weekend, a midweek or a full week. If you can go term time midweek, you'll be able to find holidays for just £40 for four people, but prices do go up at weekends and in the school holidays, so you need to check carefully to make sure it's the best deal for your family, especially once you factor in extras like entertainment passes. If you book direct, the price you're paying normally covers all the added extras like linen or passes, but that's not always the case when you book through a third party like Sun Hols From £9.50. Having said that, there is a price guarantee that means you could get money back and an extra £10 if you find a better deal within 28 days once you've booked your break. Tickets galore Even if you're not a theme park fan and don't want a caravan holiday, there are other deals on Sun Club that could make it worth your while to join. We've never been to a darts tournament before, but with two free tickets worth £74 available, it seemed like a good way to introduce my eldest to a different kind of sport that's enjoying a renaissance at the moment. And Sun Club members can also enjoy four free tickets to racecourses all over the UK. Kids go free and the tickets could be worth up to £128 if you book the summer opening party at Windsor, featuring Marvin Humes. We're often in Great Yarmouth over the summer, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for tickets to the horse racing there. If you're a bingo lover, you can claim 20 free plays each month. There's even a link to book discounted theatre tickets if you're heading to the capital for a night of culture. I'm certainly maxxing out my Sun Club membership. Make sure you're doing the same! 7 7
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Best May half-term deals on family days out: Alton Towers, Legoland and more
May half-term is almost here, and you may be looking for trips, days out and activities to keep the family busy. However, once you've paid for tickets, food, transport and, of course, a trip to the gift shop, excursions can be very expensive. Luckily, our team of expert deal-hunters are always on the lookout for discounts. We've done the hard work for you and found the best deals and ways to save on theme parks from Alton Towers to Legoland, as well as UK staycations and train travel. We'll keep updating this page as we spot more deals, so bookmark it and check back for the best May half-term offers. Our pick of the best May half-term deals: Book a short break at Alton Towers If you've got little thrill-seekers to entertain over half-term, look no further than Alton Towers. The theme park is best known for exhilarating rides like Nemesis Reborn and Toxicator, which is new for 2025. There's plenty for younger kids too, with rides, play areas, and meet-and-greets with well-loved characters in CBeebies Land. You can extend your visit into a short break. There are lots of places available to book in or around the theme park, starting from £49 per person per night at the beach-themed Splash Landings Hotel during half-term. As a hotel guest, you'll get breakfast and free parking included with your overnight stay, as well as early entry to popular rides on the second day of your stay. Stays are also available to book at the Alton Towers Hotel (from £56 per person), as well as cosy options in the Woodland Lodges (from £62 per person) and Stargazing Pods (from £32 per person). Planning a day trip this half term? Here's Save on advance bookings at Warwick Castle If your kids can't get enough of knights, princesses and dragons, they'll love the activities at Warwick Castle this May half-term. There's a retelling of the Wars of the Roses brought to life through a jousting show, birds of prey on display, meet-and-greets with Zog the dragon and lots more. Booking in advance will bring your tickets down to £29 per person, with under-2s and carers receiving free entry. Tickets can cost up to £39 when booked on the day, so you can save a fair chunk when booking for the whole family ahead of time. See even more of the best deals and discount codes for a day out at Warwick Castle Enjoy Lego Festival activities at Legoland The Lego Festival runs from now until the 8th of June, so Legoland Windsor makes for a great May half-term trip. As well as earning a Legoland Driving Licence and swooping through the air on The Dragon ride, kids can enjoy extra activities including brick-building challenges, dance parties, music and more. The festivities continue beyond half-term too, with Lego's World Play Day on 11 June bringing a whole host of activities and entertainment. The cheapest tickets start from £39 per person if you visit during the last Sunday or Monday of the month, the latter of which is also a bank holiday. A walk-up ticket on the day can cost up to £68, so it pays to plan. Book a last-minute staycation with Away Resorts You may think it's too late to book a trip away for May half-term or the bank holiday weekend. However, we've spotted some great options at Away Resorts, with holiday parks nestled in the Scottish countryside, on the sandy seafronts of North Wales and surrounded by stunning scenery in Cornwall. You can use our discount code below to get 10 per cent off your stay. We've rounded up even Save on travel with a family & friends railcard You may be making a train journey or two this half-term, whether that's to visit loved ones or head on days out. However, the cost of train tickets can quickly add up, particularly if you're travelling as a family. An easy way to save on tickets is with a family and friends railcard. This can be used on tickets for up to four adults travelling with four children under 16 years old. Adults will get a third off train travel, while children will benefit from a 60 per cent discount. The family and friends railcard costs £35 a year, or £80 for 3 years, so while there's an initial outlay, it quickly pays for itself in the savings that you'll make.
