'Terrible and devastating' - Alton Towers boss speaks after Smiler horror smash as park remains closed
Victims of the Alton Towers Smiler crash were named today, as the theme park boss described it as a "terrible incident and a devastating day".
The smash saw one car laden with 16 passengers crash into an empty carriage at approximately 20mph on the 14-loop ride.
In his speech Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, also refused to put a time frame on the park reopening, and confirmed that it will remain closed tomorrow.
Two of those seriously injured are believed to be Joe Pugh and his girlfriend Leah Washington.
Mr Pugh, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is a textile design student at the University of Huddersfield and works at the Oaks Working Men's Club in Barnsley.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the club said: "After hearing the news about the terrible accident at Alton Towers, it has to come to our attention that a member of our staff was involved.
"We at the Oaks WMC would like to extend our prayers and best wishes in the speedy recovery of our barman Joe Pugh and his girlfriend Leah Washington.
"Please be respectful of the families' wishes as we don't have all the details of the incident as their attention will be focused on Joe and Leah's recovery.
"All we hope is that they both recover and we have Joe back behind the bar as soon as possible."
Friends used Twitter to send messages to the pair.
Kay Eggleston wrote: "Wishing Joe Pugh and his girlfriend a speedy recovery after yesterday."
Jessica Martin wrote: "Cannot actually believe what's happened! Get well very soon, Joe Pugh. Just seen you on the news, can't miss that jacket. Ha ha! Love you."
Alton Towers sent Mr Pugh a tweet yesterday confirming that the theme park was open.
The Alton Towers Resort Twitter account wrote: "Joe Pugh. At the moment all of our rides and attractions are scheduled to be open today. We hope that you enjoy your visit!"
Speaking to BBC News earlier Mr Varney said the two carriages "should not have been on the same piece of track".
"Technically that should not have happened.
"The Smiler is a relatively new ride, all rides have teething problems when they open. Guest safety on those sorts of incidents is not really a major issue in the sense that when you're on a rollercoaster car, the car can't come off the track and you are restrained in the seats.
"When you have a glitch and the ride stops, it's not really an issue of safety to the riders.
"What happened is something that there are other fail-safes for. There are other braking locks that should stop two cars being on the same track, but that didn't work the way it was supposed to."
In a statement for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Neil Craig, head of operations for HSE in the Midlands, said: "This was a major incident and members of the public have suffered serious injuries. It meets the criteria for an HSE investigation and our inspectors were at Alton Towers yesterday to begin making inquiries.
"We have assembled a team of specialist inspectors and technical investigators and they will be on site today to continue our investigation.
"Our role is to establish the facts. 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.
"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."
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust spokesman Andrew Ashcroft said: "The Major Trauma Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital received four patients yesterday from the incident at Alton Towers.
"We have a very strong record of safe operation of our rides here at Alton Towers and it is our priority.
"I would like to express my sincerest regret and apology to everyone who suffered injury and distress today and to their families.
"I would like to thank the emergency services and my own teams for their swift and effective response yesterday – they were outstanding.
"Two patients were received via air ambulance and two via land ambulance, one of these has now been discharged from the hospital."
Eye witnesses told of people on the rollercoaster being knocked out, left covered in blood and screaming in terror. Some riders were trapped on the ride for more than five hours.
The four most severely injured – two men and two women – suffered 'serious leg injuries' in the smash at 2.09pm yesterday.
The other 12 riders were not thought to be badly injured, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Steve Parry said.
Eyewitnesses told how an empty carriage, believed to have been sent out as a test car, had failed to complete the ride but a second car was then sent out. The ride, which has a top speed of 53mph, was also reported to have broken down earlier in the day.
Olivia Marston, aged 21, was on the ride less than half an hour before the crash. Her account mirrored that of Mr Simm. She said: "An empty cart went round the loop but couldn't get all the way round, this meant it fell backwards down the loop.
"The empty cart was swinging backwards and forwards for a while then a cart full of people smashed right into the back of the empty one.
"The bang was horrendous. Absolutely horrific. Everyone crowded round the area and there were lots of screams."
The terrified riders were suspended 25ft in the air at a 45 degree angle. Emergency services battled for a number of hours to rescue those trapped on the ride. A platform was built at the park to rescue the 16 passengers and transfer casualties to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Royal Stoke University Hospital. The more seriously injured were treated in a well under the ride and then winched up to waiting ambulances.
Four air ambulances were scrambled to the park along with ambulances, doctors and paramedics and 32 firefighters. Alton Towers described it as the worst incident in the park's history.
Ian Crabbe, divisional director of the Alton Towers Resort said yesterday afternoon: "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 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. At around 2pm there was an incident on The Smiler ride involving two carriages coming together on a low section of the track. One of the carriages was empty and the other had 16 guests in. The park's first responder team were on site in minutes, and the emergency services shortly after. The emergency services, including the air ambulances, remain in attendance and are assisting Resort staff as they work to evacuate those on the ride.
"A full investigation is under way, and representatives of the Health and Safety Executive are already on site and working with us."
