Ski coach crash woman awarded more than a million compensation
A former Skibound employee who was seriously injured in a coach crash as she returned home from a ski season in France has won more than £1 million compensation.
Catrin Pugh, aged 22, was one of 49 Skibound staff who survived the crash, but she suffered burns to 96% of her body.
The coach, travelling from Alpe d’Huez, burst into flames, killing the driver and injuring several passengers.
Ms Pugh was one of three passengers seriously injured and was given just a one in 1,000 chance of survival following the crash in April 2013.
She spent eight months at a specialist burns unit in Merseyside and has since suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. She was recently told damage she suffered to her eye-sight is permanent.
The seven-figure settlement was reached with the owner of the County Durham-based firm Classic Coaches, which Skibound had used for 20 years.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments