THE RIDE AT Alton Towers that hurt 16 people when it malfunctioned last June is set to reopen tomorrow.

The Smiler rollercoaster crash left four people with serious injuries, including teenager Leah Washington who lost one of her legs and Joe Pugh who had both of his kneecaps smashed.

Speaking out today, a number of victims have said stated their wishes that the ride remain closed.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme, Pugh said: “I think it would have been a bit unrealistic if we both said ‘I don’t think it’s ever going to reopen again’ because it always was going to, but if people choose to go on it, that’s up to them.”

He went on to state that he “would have preferred for it to remain closed”.

Also appearing on the programme was Washington, who is Pugh’s girlfriend.

Speaking on ITV News Vicky Balch, who had to have her leg amputated as a result of her injuries, said:

I don’t want it, I’ve never wanted it to re-open, that’s just the obvious reaction and I just didn’t think it would be so soon. It’s only 9 months, it’s not a very long time.

Read: “I started to feel pain and I couldn’t feel my toes.” – Teenager describes Alton Towers crash

Also: Alton Towers says horror crash was caused by ‘human error’