Personal injury news

Footballer refuses to be beaten by car accident horror

A former Premier League footballer who lost his leg in a car accident has revealed how he is planning to compete in the Olympic Games as a rower.

Dario Silva, an ex-Uruguay international who appeared for Portsmouth last season, has been rowing since the age of six and now plans to participate in the sport at London's 2012 Olympics.

The 34-year-old's sparkling football career came to a premature end in September 2006 when he suffered serious personal injuries in a car crash in his native Uruguay. He was lucky to survive the car accident but doctors were forced to amputate his right leg.

Telling journalists of his ambitious plans, Silva said, "It's true. I want to compete in the Olympic Games.

"I still have one year to recover fully. I'm training, but I think it is very probable and maybe I can compete in London 2012."

Two other former Uruguay footballers, Dardo Pereira and Elbio Pappa, were also involved in the car accident but suffered only minor personal injuries.

For more information about rowing, check out www.worldrowing.com.