Romanian teenager makes professional debut wearing a prosthetic hand 10 years on from tragic accident

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.
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"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."

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