Alton Towers couple Leah and Joe: 'We drifted apart after the crash – now we're getting married!'

ok.co.uk:

Leah Washington, 24, and Joe Pugh, 25, were only officially dating for one week when they visited theme park Alton Towers in 2015.

Both were left with life-altering injuries after a horror crash on The Smiler ride. Here, the newly engaged couple share their story exclusively with OK!.The gloriously happy moment when Joe Pugh proposed to his girlfriend Leah Washington felt even sweeter for the couple as they’ve had to overcome major obstacles since their relationship began back in 2015. “If you’d told either of us during the weeks that followed our horrific accident at Alton Towers that we’d be planning our wedding now, I don’t think we’d have believed it,” admits Leah. “I wish I could go back in time and say, ‘Everything will work out.This traumatic event won’t stop you from doing whatever you want to do – it’ll just take you a little longer.’” “When I proposed to Leah I didn’t actually say the words, ‘Will you marry me?’” admits Joe. “I just got down on one knee in a quiet Venice side street, showed her the ring and then found myself suddenly speechless!” “We were in the middle of shooting photos for my influencer work,” grins Leah. “And I immediately burst into tears – and then couldn’t stop crying! “I was in shock as I’d only ever made passing comments about marriage.

After everything we’ve been through, we’ve had to do a lot of growing up quickly, so I didn’t want to rush this. His proposal was a beautiful surprise to me – but he’d secretly asked my dad for his permission.” Leah and Joe headed to a rooftop bar to celebrate, rang their parents and excitedly started talking about potential wedding venues.The loved-up pair first started their romance when Leah was 17 and Joe was 18. “We shared mutual friends and Joe.