One Direction have sent their well wishes to a teenage girl whose leg was amputated following a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers, and promised to meet her backstage at one of their concerts.
Leah Washington, 17, from Barnsley, was one of five people who suffered severe injuries in the collision on the Smiler ride on 2 June.
Leah is said to be a huge fan of One Direction and her friends started a Twitter campaign #Get1DToLeah, calling for the boyband to visit her in hospital.
@leahwashy Thinking about you Leah & hoping you are home in South Yorkshire soon Xx
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) June 8, 2015
The lads – Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan – are currently in Europe on their world tour, but have recorded a special video message for Leah and are offering her free concert tickets. Louis has already tweeted Leah.
Their spokesman said: “Unfortunately because of their schedule they can’t visit her in hospital, but they have offered Leah tickets to a forthcoming concert of her choice when she has recovered, and will be delighted to meet her backstage then.”
Sara Stuart, who helped start the campaign, told the BBC she had been to the Royal Stoke University Hospital to visit Leah.
Leah Washington was injured in the crash on the Alton Towers Smiler ride (West Midlands Ambulance Service)
“She’s seen them so many times,” Sara said. “It’s really given Leah something to aim for and really look forward to once she’s recovered.”
She said the message 'would make Leah’s day and aid her recovery'.
Leah missed seeing One Direction play at the weekend because of her injuries. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Joe Pugh, is being treated for two broken knees and 'extensive' hand injuries. He and Leah were in the front row of the Smiler ride when it hit an empty carriage last week.
Three other people were treated for severe injuries. The crash left 16 people trapped 25ft above the ground for about four-and-a-half hours.
