Joe Pugh, 18, was on the front row of The Smiler ride on Tuesday when it smashes into an empty carriage - seriously injuring four people.
Next to him was his girlfriend, Leah Washington, 17, who was also seriously hurt during the incident, and further along their row sat another couple - also injured.
Witnesses on the scene said that people’s faces had been ‘smashed in’ during the crash, and that blood was ‘everywhere’ in the aftermath.
Although the exact nature of their conditions is yet to be confirmed, West Midlands Ambulance Service said three of the four involved have ‘life-changing’ injuries.
Another girl who was on The Smiler at the time it crashed spoke to the Mirror Online, telling them: ‘We finally went up and were kept at the top for ten or 15 minutes chatting, joking that we were the guinea pigs.’
‘Then we plummeted down and smashed into the test car after doing a couple of loops.’
She added that blood was ‘pouring’ from people with leg injuries further up in the carriage.
Alton Towers has remained closed for a second day today, as officials wait to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
Witness footage from immediately after the crash: