Kayaker's leg amputated in 20-hour ordeal trapped between rocks on Australia river

Kayaker’s Rescue Leads to Life-saving Amputation #

A harrowing rescue operation unfolded on the Franklin River in Australia when a foreign tourist kayaker in his 60s found himself trapped between rocks. His 20-hour ordeal began around 2:30 pm when kayaking through challenging rapids.

An emergency alert from his smartwatch initiated a complex rescue due to the remote location in Tasmania’s Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Despite numerous attempts overnight, rescuers couldn’t extract him.

With his condition worsening, a decision was made, with the man’s consent, to amputate his leg to save his life.

“This rescue was an extremely challenging and technical operation, and an incredible effort over many hours to save the man’s life.” There was deep gratitude for everyone involved in the operation “in the most difficult of circumstances.”