Romanian footballer makes professional debut wearing prosthetic hands

A Romanian footballer made his professional debut on Tuesday night, 10 years on from losing his hand in a tragic accident.

Cosmin Lambru came off the bench in the 81st minute of Petrloul Ploiesti's cup clash at home to Mioveni, which the visitors won 4-3 on penalties, realising his dream of playing professionally a decade on from being hit by a truck when he was just eight years old.

After initial fears that he would have to have most of his arm amputated, doctors were able to save most of the limb, before he set about starting a football career despite his obvious disadvantages.

"We were coming home when a truck skidded and headed towards me," he explained of the accident to Romanian paper Daily Sport.

"I threw myself into the vehicle to try and get under it. I felt terrible pain but I was aware that I had been taken to hospital."

After rising through the ranks at his club, Lambru bought his prosthetic arm in Italy for what he describes as "a lot of money", but he saw it as crucial in order to realise his dream.

"When I returned to football, I started to learn new things and especially how to fall, just resting on one arm," Lambru told Romanian website sport.ro .

"It was not easy at all, but I did not cry and never do it. I'm not being cared for by anyone and I do not want to be.

"I have no fear of putting my foot on the ball, being attacked harder. That's just football, only for the strong ones.

"Life is a struggle that never ends."

Brave young man. All the best to him.