Miracle surgery

last updated 8 January 2015

Perth, Australia

An Australian child who had three limbs severed in a freak basketball accident this week now has them all successfully reattached. Terry Vo, 10, was doing a slam-dunk into a backyard hoop when the brick wall behind the backboard gave way and collapsed on him. Broken bricks and a metal rain gutter sliced off both his hands and his left foot. In an apparent world first, surgeons simultaneously reattached all the limbs, and restored proper blood flow. “He has still obviously got pain,” said Dr. Robert Love, head of the surgical team, “but he is very positive, and moving some of his parts.” The accident prompted a nationwide examination of safety standards for home basketball equipment.