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Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi has won a Paralympics silver medal - 15 years to the day after losing his legs in a horrific crash.

The Italian nearly died in the horrific 2001 CART accident, which led to both legs being amputated above the knee.

But, determined not to end his racing career there, he vowed to find a new sport and has won six world championship golds since taking up hand-cycling in 2007.

Now, after winning gold in Rio on Wednesday, he has added a silver medal to his collection on an emotional day.

Twenty-four hours earlier Zanardi had successfully defended the H5 road time-trial title he won in London 2012.

Then, in amazing sprint finish in the H5, 49-year-old Zanardi was only just edged out of gold by South Africa’s Ernst van Dyk.

Afterwards the Italian told C4Paralympics: “I gave it everything I had. I don’t know if it was the type of course, or my age, or the fact I didn’t sleep much – but to finish second, I am really happy.”

Referring to the anniversary, he added: “Fifteen years today, I was reborn.

(Image: Getty Images)

"Not bad after all – a silver medal for my anniversary. I can’t ask for much more, just a kiss from my wife and my son when I go home.”

Zanardi insisted he had only concentrated on the race beforehand.

He explained: "I never thought about it before the race. I just stayed focused to do everything I could to increase my chance of winning, because it was a very tough race, very chaotic. But now that I think about, it is important."

Zanardi has previously told how his heart stopped seven times and he spent about 50 minutes with under a litre of blood in his body after the crash.

But, as severe as his injuries were, Zanardi refused to let the incident end his elite sporting career.

He also competes in the mixed H2-5 team relay tomorrow.