Woman who lost leg in Alton Towers Smiler crash takes first steps with prosthetic limb

Sebastian Mann12 April 2016

A woman who lost a leg in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash has taken her first steps with a state of the art prosthetic limb.

Vicky Balch’s right leg was amputated after the theme park disaster on the Smiler ride in June last year.

Today she showed off publicly the impact innovative treatment has had on her life since.

The 20-year-old said the prosthetic appendage, fitted only weeks ago, had transformed her life.

First steps: Vicky Balch demonstrated her new prosthetic limb on Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid
ITV

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she told host Susanna Reid: "It's just a lot more natural.

"I've got a lot more energy so I can go and do things like go see my friends, just do normal things that a normal 20-year-old would do.”

Emergency: paramedics treat victims on the Smiler ride following the crash last year (Picture: Sky News)
SKY NEWS

Ms Balch was one of two women to lose a leg after the crash at the Staffordshire theme park.

Three others were also serious hurt when their carriage collided with another stationary ride car.

The Smiler while officials investigated the incident but the ride has since reopened.

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