Alton Towers owner Merlin rues accident effect

The 20-year-old, from Leyland, Lancashire, said she had spent days in pain and undergone six operations in the days after the crash, before deciding her leg had to be amputated.

Vicky was at the front of the theme park’s Smiler ride in June when it smashed into an empty carriage.

The firm said the temporary closure of the park after the crash and the damage to reputation suffered by Alton Towers mean its half-year theme park profit is now expected to be between £40m-£50m (€54.7m-€68.4m, $62m-$77.5m), 43%-54% down from last year’s figure of £87m (€121.9m, $135.1bn).

However, its Legoland resorts in North America and Germany performed strongly to offset some of the damage in the United Kingdom, with group like-for-like sales rising 0.3% on the same nine-month period previous year.

‘The performance of our Legoland parks operating group has remained strong, with very positive guest satisfaction, ‘ Merlin Entertainments said.

Merlin, the world’s second biggest visitor attractions group behind Walt Disney, on Thursday said sales at its theme parks division fell 11.4 percent in the 36 weeks to September 5.

A weak euro also hit visitor numbers at London attractions.

Alton Towers crash victim Victoria Balch has discussed the moment she was told she would lose her leg.

Merlin also suspended United Kingdom theme park marketing and temporarily closed rides at two other sites.

Chief executive Nick Varney said: “While near term challenges remain, the group is making good overall progress on its growth strategy”.

He said the firm would continue to do what it could to support those who were injured and their families.

Clearly, today’s update is disappointing for the company’s investors and, while it means that the company’s shares are cheaper, they still trade on a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of over 15.

It has now reported that visitor numbers at the park, at its other resorts to a lesser extent, had reduced, exacerbated by relatively poor weather in the United Kingdom in August.

Vicky Balch, 20, also had a leg amputated, while Daniel Thorpe, 27, suffered a broken leg and a punctured lung.

Merlin Entertainments’ portfolio includes Madame Tussauds wax museum, Alton Towers and Legoland.

Merlin is yet to decide on the future of The Smiler, which cost £18m and opened in May 2013, although it is thought to be hoping to reopen the ride at some stage.

A spokesman said: “It’s an ongoing process and no decisions have been taken”.