Former Shenhua player recovers in hospital after severe crash

Argentinean footballer Patricio Toranzo, who used to play for China's Shanghai Shenhua, said on Saturday that he was lucky to come off so lightly from the traffic accident suffered in Venezuela.

After the team bus of Argentinean club Huracan flipped over on Wednesday in Venezuela, while on its way to Caracas airport, the 33-year-old midfielder had four toes amputated from his left foot.

Writing on Twitter on Saturday, he said that "I have no words to thank all the help from local players, from our executives, from the Quemero people (Huracan fans) and from Argentina."

"My gratefulness is eternal to you and to my family, who were extremely worried about my situation without knowing what had happened," he continued.

According to Toranzo, this accident was the most severe crisis to affect the club of Huracan in its history.

"We have been through many things in this sport, joy and sadness. We have overcome many barriers, but this is doubtless the worst barrier we have faced. Thanks to God, we have overcome once more," added the player on Twitter.

The player is currently recovering from surgery in Buenos Aires' San Camilo clinic, alongside his teammate, Diego Mendoza, whose left foot was mangled after being stuck between a rock and broken glass.

Huracan's doctor, Fernando Locaso, who operated on them, did not rule out a return to professional football for either man.

Toranzo began his career for River Plate before joining a number of clubs, including Shanghai Shenhua in 2013, ahead of moving on to Huracan. Endi