Alton Towers crash victim Joe Pugh returns to attraction for anxiety therapy

'It's incredibly difficult to talk about but I wanted to get stuff out of my mind,' 19-year-old says

'I'm so proud of how far we've both come,' the 19-year-old said (Facebook)

One of the victims badly injured in the rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has returned to the theme park on the advice of his counsellor.

Joe Pugh was in the front carriage of the Smiler with his girlfriend, Leah Washington, when it collided into another cart which had come to a halt on the track.

The 19-year-old had to learn to walk again after his knees were shattered and Ms Washington’s injuries were so severe she had her left leg amputated above the knee. Vicky Balch, 20, also lost part of her leg.

In an interview with the Sunday People, Mr Pugh said he had visited the scene of the crash on the advice of the counsellor who is treating him for anxiety.

"I'm so proud of how far we've both come,” he said. “I had counselling for six weeks after the accident because I had issues with being in confined spaces and was getting anxious in crowds.

"I even went back to Alton Towers because my counsellor recommended it. It's incredibly difficult to talk about but I wanted to get stuff out of my mind. It has been such a traumatic year.

"I was in hospital for a month and was left with less than half a kneecap in my left knee and half a kneecap in my right one. I've been told I will recover but in the future I'll need knee replacements so there is more surgery in the pipeline."

He added that he and Leah had gone on their first holiday together this week, when they visited the Christmas markets in Munich.

In total, 16 people were injured in a collision that investigations later revealed was the result of human error. All of the victims are set to receive compensation.