Alton Towers crash victim Leah Washington marks eight years since accident 'flipped her life'

Alton Towers rollercoaster crash amputee Leah Washington, 25, has shared an inspirational video documenting her journey over the past eight years since her "life was flipped". The 25-year-old from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was 17 years old when the Smiler rollercoaster carriage smashed into a stationary train at Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, in June 2015. Leah was one of two young passengers who lost a leg while Joe, her now-fiance, suffered devastating injuries himself including two shattered kneecaps. Sharing the video on Instagram, Leah said: "8 years since my life flipped, how time has flown! A brief little journey from then until now, a 17-year-old girl thinking what was going to happen next, underconfident after surgery & struggling to think positive." "I feel the best I have felt in a long time," she added. Watch more videos at the Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/editors-picks Click here to subscribe to The Independent: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: Check out our full video catalog: https://www.youtube.com/c/theindependent/videos Videos, daily editorial and more: http://www.theindy.com Click here to get the best of The Independent daily: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Like The Independent on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/TheIndependentOnline Follow The Independent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Independent Follow The Independent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.independent Download the iOS & Android app: https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/app Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust - https://www.independent.co.uk/donations Subscribe to Independent Premium for exclusive content & live events: https://bit.ly/2MiOONB