Woman who lost her leg in Alton Towers crash models at London Fashion Week

'What we think of a ‘whole’ or ‘perfect’ is open to interpretation, deconstruction and ultimately reformation'

(Rex Features)

A teenager who lost her right leg after the catastrophic rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers in 2015 has made an appearance at London Fashion Week.

Vicky Balch, now 22, walked the runway for British label Teatum Jones amongst fellow amputees.

Balch’s leg was amputated after a defect on the Smiler ride - which boasted a top speed of 85mph - caused two carriages to collide, leaving 16 people with severe injuries.

(Rex Features (Rex Features)

It was the worst accident in the popular theme park’s history, and left the Staffordshire site with a £5 million fine.

Following the ordeal, Balch revealed that she has struggled with body confidence issues and has battled suicidal thoughts.

A former dancer from Lancashire, Balch is now signed with Zebedee Model Agency, which represents a number of models, actors and performers with disabilities.

Walking alongside GB Paralympian Natasha Baker, Balch wore a forest green jumper dress from Teatum Jones’ spring/summer 2018 collection which proudly displayed her prosthetic leg, thanks to the garment's jagged hemline.

Fans of the brand were quick to take to social media to offer their praise Balch for her bravery and expressing their admiration of her.

It’s not the first time an amputee has made an apperance at London Fashion Week.

Teatum Jones also cast amputees in their autumn/winter 2017 show last season, which featured male model Jack Eyers, who became the first amputee to win Mr England earlier this year.

(Rex Features (Rex Features)

Both shows form part of the brand’s 12-month long series entitled “The Body,” which examines the shopper’s relationship with the human form.

“Our goal with #thebody is to explore and breakdown the idea of us and them, and to champion the idea that what we think of a ‘whole’ or ‘perfect’ is open to interpretation, deconstruction and ultimately reformation,” the designers wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.