A tourist in Tasmania had his leg amputated in the middle of a river after he got stuck between rocks while kayaking with friends.
The rescue mission in the Franklin River lasted about 20 hours, and rescuers said they had to make a “life or death” decision while keeping the tourist under discussion, according to the American “space” website. BBC.
The visitor, who is in his sixties, remained partially submerged in water the entire time, and rescuers confirmed that “if he had remained in the position he was in, trapped in the rocky crevice, he would not have survived.”
Australian State Police said emergency services were called to the remote area when the two men’s smart watches called for help.
After several failed attempts throughout the night to extract his leg from the rocks, they decided to amputate it as his condition worsened.
“This rescue was a very technical and difficult operation, an incredible effort over several hours to save the man’s life,” Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Doug Osterloh said in a statement.
“This was a life or death situation,” Assistant Commissioner Osterloh told Australian National Radio. ABC.
The man was airlifted to hospital and remains in critical condition.