The ill-fated Smiler rollercoaster accident at the theme park in Staffordshire left four youngsters badly hurt. Vicky Balch, one of the major Alton Towers Rollercoaster crash victims, who had to get one of her legs amputated, has got a family of elephants tattooed on her remaining leg as a symbol of strength, unity and family.
The recovery has been tough for 20-year old dancer Vicky Balch who had to get her right leg amputated after the tragic rollercoaster accident on June 2, 2015, when a carriage carrying her on the Smiler rollercoaster smashed into an empty car. The nightmarish moment left her really heartbroken and weak.
While Balch awaits a bionic that will allow her to stand back on her two feet and dance yet again, she got her left leg inked with family of elephants. The tattooing procedure was carried out by expert tattoo artist and TV host Jay Hutton and was shown in the second episode of the Channel 4 series Tattoo Fixers. Hutton described the experience as deeply moving – he said, “It was nice to get some joy out of an awful situation.”
Vicky Balch is a very confident and strong hearted girl. Despite undergoing eight surgeries post her accident, and having her leg amputated; she is really optimistic and very excited for her new prosthetic limb. The prosthetic leg she will be receiving will replace the more painful artificial leg that she now wears. The bionic leg will allow Balch to walk again for the first time after the accident and let her do more complex things such as climbing stair or even dancing yet again.
Leaving aside the excitement of her bionic leg, Balch was recently excited about the new tattoo that she received. Talking to Mirror Online about the tattoo she got on her leg, Balch said, “I worried whether I could face a needle after having so many put into me in hospital. But the procedure was fine. I actually enjoyed it.
Balch has been very fond of tattoos; she describes her new ink as, “I love tattoos and had three already, so having another was like a return to normality – something I did before the accident". On being ask the reason for wearing elephants on the leg, Balch says, “I chose an elephant as to me they represent strength, unity and family."
Vicky Balch is steadily returning to normalcy. She has recently started dating Dan Halton. Balch met Halton while studying at the University of Derby. On knowing about her ordeal, Halton asked Balch out for the first time.
Eighteen year old Leah Washington was the other seriously injured at the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash. Washington also had to get her leg amputated, while her boyfriend, nineteen year old Joe Pugh broke his knee caps. Daniel Thorpe was the fourth person on board the carriage that fateful day.
The Smiler is expected to reopen soon post undergoing new safety checks. While most people are really excited of getting back to the ride, Vicky Balch believes, the rollercoaster should be called off and closed for good.
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