Alton Towers: Video Shows Moments After Crash

Footage has emerged from the seconds immediately after a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers, where screaming passengers can be heard pleading for the ride to stop.

In the video, the 16 people on board The Smiler ride are seen rocking backwards and forwards, after the carriage they were travelling in collided with a stationary carriage.

A voice in the recording is heard saying how the victims' car had "come round full speed into the back" of the empty carriage on a low section of the track.

However, an Alton Towers spokesman said the carriage holding the passengers was travelling at approximately 20mph at the time.

The two carriages appeared to be locked together in the aftermath of the crash, as the passengers swung from side to side.

"Alton Towers Resort is currently making contact with the families of all those involved and will continue to communicate with them," a statement released on Wednesday afternoon added.

Staff were quick to evacuate the area following the accident, which left four people with "significant lower limb injuries" - and the amusement park has been closed until at least Friday as an investigation continues.

Sky Correspondent Frazer Maude said: "It's not clear yet whether Alton Towers will open at all this week.

"Members of the Health and Safety Executive, as well as the park's own investigators, will be continuing to look into exactly how this incident happened.

"It's something that shouldn't have happened, according to the company which owns and runs Alton Towers - as there should be failsafe systems in place which means that braking systems come into operation to prevent two carriages being on the same section of track at any one time.

"Clearly, those failed - and they need to look into why those failed."

The two men and two women who sustained serious leg injuries were still being treated on the scene by medics four-and-a-half hours after the crash - as some passengers were trapped 25ft in the air.

The four hurt, aged between 17 and 27, were airlifted to major trauma centres.

Twelve others on the ride also received medical treatment, including a man in his 20s who suffered neck and abdominal injuries.

He was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, but has now been discharged.

Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which runs the park, told Sky News: "It goes without saying that I and the whole team here are totally devastated and a little bit shell-shocked by what's happened.

"Our thoughts are obviously with those that were injured and their families.

"As a company we exist to give people safe, fun and memorable days out and today something clearly went terribly wrong."

Mr Varney said the Staffordshire amusement park had "never had an accident like this".

He added that the investigation will try to establish how two cars were on the same section of track at the same time, something he said should be "impossible".

Merlin's share price lost more than 3% of its value on Tuesday as news of the accident reached investors.

According to the official website of The Smiler, the £18m ride is the world's first rollercoaster with 14 loops.

It opened in May 2013 - and the ride was affected by two incidents within the space of just six months.

Two months after it opened, in July, a metal bolt fell off the ride - leaving a gap in the track.

Some 48 people had to be rescued.

Then, in November 2013, passengers sitting in the front seats of the ride were hit when several of the rollercoaster's wheels fell off.