Argentine player loses four toes in bus crash

Caracas - An Argentine footballer lost four toes when his team bus crashed in Venezuela after playing a qualifying match in the Copa Libertadores regional club tournament, officials said.

Patricio Toranzo, 33, was one of several members of Argentine club Atletico Huracan hurt in the crash as the team headed to the airport after their 1-0 win over local side Caracas FC.

"We were informed after the operation that the player Toranzo lost four toes of his left foot. Sadly they had to be amputated," top Caracas FC official Ricardo Padron said on television.

Midfielder Toranzo is acclaimed for his skills and shooting with his right foot.

Huracan said on its Facebook page that all its players were "out of danger" but Toranzo, striker Diego Mendoza and one of the team's trainers Pablo Santella were still hospitalized.

Six members of the club were injured when the bus crashed off a highway on the way to Simon Bolivar Airport near Caracas. Huracan staff said the bus's brakes failed.