Alton Towers crash couple raise thousands for nurses who treated them

Nurses who cared for the survivors of the Alton Towers ‘Smiler’ crash have thanked their former patients for donating nearly £7,000 to their hospital.

The team at the Royal Stoke University Hospital said they were delighted to accept £6,900, raised at a gala dinner and presented by teenagers Joe Pugh and Leah Washington.

The pair, both from Barnsley, raised the money for the hospital’s three units that cared for them last June after their carriage on the rollercoaster ride collided with another.

Ms Washington, 18, underwent an amputation above the knee before undertaking physiotherapy, while Mr Pugh, 19, had surgery on his hands and knees.

Steve Rushton, head of University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) charity, said: ‘From early on during Leah and Joe’s time at the hospital we knew that they and their families wanted to give something back to say thank you for the care and support they both received.

‘The money will be split between the children’s wards and orthopaedic ward at Royal Stoke University Hospital where Leah and Joe were treated.

‘We’d like to thank them and all of the people who supported their fundraising for this fantastic amount, it will make a big difference to our patients.’