Alton Towers crash victim Chanda Chauhan issues Smiler plea
A victim of the Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has called for the ride to be shut indefinitely after 30 people were trapped in a new incident.
Chanda Chauhan, from Wednesbury, said news of Thursday's evacuation took her "straight back" to last year's crash.
"It shouldn't put people's lives at risk. Until they sort it out it should be closed," Ms Chauhan said.
Alton Towers said "at no time were any guests at risk" this week.
"All of the rides undergo extensive testing before they open to the public each day, thorough monthly checks and are also subject to independent, third party accreditation to ensure the highest levels of safety," a spokeswoman for the Staffordshire theme park said.
The Smiler reopened in March, nine months after a horror crash left five people seriously injured - including two women who required leg amputations.
Ms Chauhan, 51, had surgery to her stomach and further treatment for a damaged liver and blood clots.
The ride was evacuated and later reopened on Thursday after a piece of rubber "came away from one of the carriages," an Alton Towers spokeswoman said.
History of problems
- May 2013: A group of 16 journalists were left dangling as they tried out the rollercoaster before it opened to the public
- July 2013: Ride shut for four days after a piece fell off the track, resulting in the rescue of 48 people
- August 2013: Closed for five days due to a "technical issue"
- November 2013: Closed for a further five days after wheels fell off and hit four people in the front carriage. The injured people were looked after by park staff and did not need treatment by the ambulance service, a spokeswoman said at the time
- April 2014: Riders left stranded when the ride stopped at the top of a near-vertical section
- June 2015: Five people are seriously injured as two carriages collide - human error is later blamed
- Sept 2016: About 30 people were stuck on the ride when it was stopped after a piece of rubber came away from one of the carriages.
Ms Chauhan said: "I know it's a business and I do understand they need to make money, but if something is not working right it shouldn't put people's lives at risk.
"I think it should be closed completely. Until they sort it out it should be closed."
Ms Chauhan said she felt "winded" when she heard of the latest issue with the ride.
"It was like I'd had a blow in my stomach," she said.
"I thought to myself, 'oh no not again'. It took me straight back to the incident."