Alton Towers victim Vicky Balch ‘insulted’ after theme park boss promises to reopen roller coaster

Alton Towers amputee Vicky Balch has spoken out against the billionaire them park boss

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by Fiona Day |
Published on

Earlier this summer, 20-year-old Vicky Balch was horrifically injured after riding on the Smiler roller coaster at Alton Towers.

Following a shocking roller coaster crash, Vicky was forced to have her leg amputated above the knee following six rounds of painful surgery.

Now the student has hit out at billionaire Alton Towers boss Nick Varney after he visited her in her home earlier this month.

Speaking to the Mail Online, Vicky said she felt ‘insulted’ when Varney told her they would re-open the ride as they were ‘losing a lot of money’.

“They said they are not making as much money as they used to.

Vicky and Leah with the fire crew that saved their lives (Instagram)

“I feel upset and insulted.

“This happened to me on their ride so why would they want to reopen it so quickly? It has changed my future – my independence has completely gone and I cry all the time.”

She added: “They weren’t asking our opinion, they were just informing us. I got upset. I knew they’d want to reopen it, but not so quickly. It’s disrespectful.”

Vicky’s mother was also left outraged by Varney’s comments, telling the website: “For them to come and talk about lost profits when they’re looking at a 20-year-old girl who’s lost a leg and had her entire life changed forever is appalling.”

18-year-old old Leah Washington also lost her leg in the horror crash earlier this year.

Emergency services were forced to hang from harnesses in order to free Leah and Vicky from the roller coaster as they raced to save their lives.

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