One of the four people seriously injured in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash is a University of Huddersfield student.
Joe Pugh, 18, has just completed his first year of textile design studies at the University.
But he is now in hospital after Monday’s terrifying accident involving a thrill ride at Alton Towers.
He was caught on the ride with his girlfriend, Leah Washington.
The pair were on a ride named The Smiler when it smashed into another carriage and injured both of them.
The couple were among four people seriously injured when carriages collided on The Smiler ride at the Staffordshire park.
Joe, 18, is a student at Huddersfield and also works at Oaks Working Men’s Club in his home town of Barnsley.
He and Leah, 17, have been detained in hospital. The extent of their injuries are not yet known.
Steve Hibbert, manager of Oaks Working Men’s Club, Ardsley, Barnsley, said Mr Pugh had been employed as a barman at the club since February.
He said: “He was rather quiet at first but he soon came out of his shell. He got on well with all the people that work here and the customers.
“I hired him but I didn’t know him that well on a personal level.
“I heard the news last night when another barman asked me if I had heard what had happened.
“It was a shock. You don’t expect that these kind of accidents will involve someone you know.
“I don’t expect to hear from his family until next week. Their priority is Joe.
“Strangely enough another of our bar staff, Alice, knows him as she used to go to school with his girlfriend Leah Washington.”
Friends used Twitter to send messages to the pair.
Kay Eggleston wrote: “Wishing Joe Pugh and his girlfriend a speedy recovery after yesterday.”
Jessica Martin wrote: “Cannot actually believe what’s happened! Get well very soon, Joe Pugh. Just seen you on the news, can’t miss that jacket. Ha ha! Love you.”
Alton Towers sent Mr Pugh a tweet yesterday confirming that the theme park was open.
The Alton Towers Resort Twitter account wrote: “Joe Pugh. At the moment all of our rides and attractions are scheduled to be open today. We hope that you enjoy your visit!”
The theme park boss whose record-breaking rollercoaster crashed, leaving four people seriously injured, said the troubled attraction suffered “teething problems” after opening.
Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments which runs Alton Towers, spoke as the Health and Safety Executive continues to investigate why two carriages collided on the Staffordshire venue’s new ride, The Smiler.
A total of 16 people were hurt - including two men aged 27 and 18, and two women aged 19 and 17, who suffered serious leg injuries in the crash.
Alton Towers was closed today, with no timeframe on when it might reopen.
The £18 million rollercoaster, which boasts a world record 14 loops, has been closed twice because of safety concerns since opening two years ago.
In July 2013 it was shut after reports that a bolt was seen to have fallen from the ride and in November that year the rollercoaster was closed again after plastic guard wheels came loose and hit front-row riders.
Mr Varney described The Smiler as “a relatively new ride”, and added: “All rides have teething problems when they open.”
