Fan lost three fingers when Cobra firework exploded in his hand at PSV celebration

A PSV fan lost three fingers when a Cobra firework exploded in his hand during the party in Eindhoven to celebrate the team’s national championship on Sunday. The 49-year-old man only realized the damage when they took the bandages off in hospital on Monday morning, he told RTL Nieuws. “I’m missing my index finger, middle finger, and half my thumb. It’s still bleeding quite a bit,” Appie said.

Appie was at the party to celebrate PSV’s 4-2 victory over Sparta Rotterdam, securing the Eredivisie title for the Eindhoven team. He had quite a bit to drink by the time that someone handed him the firework. “I thought they were putting a torch in my hand, but it turned out to be a cobra,” he told the broadcaster. The firework exploded in his hand.

“I looked at my hand, but didn’t immediately realize how serious it was,” Appie said. “I had heard that there was a lot of damage but I didn’t expect that fingers would be completely gone. Luckily I held the cobra above my head and not near my face because then it could have been much worse.”

The PSV fan will remain in the hospital for a few days yet for special oxygen therapy to improve blood circulation in his damaged hand. “It’s just shit,” he told RTL. “People shouldn’t come to a football match with cobras. This happened to me, but for the same money it could have been a small child.”

The police are investigating. If someone handed the cobra to Appie as he remembers, it could constitute a criminal offense. Appie doesn’t know whether he will press charges.

PSV spoke of a “very unpleasant event” and hopes that Appie will recover quickly.

The official celebration of PSV’s national title will happen in Eindhoven this afternoon. The festivities kick off at the Philips Stadium at 3:45 p.m.