Tragic Kayaking Incident in Tasmania Ends with Amputation for Tourist

A man visiting Tasmania found himself in a perilous situation while kayaking with friends, resulting in a life-altering leg amputation after rescuers deemed it necessary for survival.

In a harrowing incident on the Franklin River, a tourist in his 60s became ensnared between rocks and was ultimately saved through a difficult 20-hour rescue operation. The man was kayaking with friends on Friday when he slipped, falling into a rock crevice in an area known for its rapid waters. As he became partially submerged, medics and Tasmania Police worked in tandem to navigate the complex rescue, which was marked as a "life or death" scenario.

The emergency services were alerted when the tourist's smartwatch activated an alert for help. This notification prompted a rapid response from rescue teams, who arrived at the challenging and remote location after dark. Despite multiple attempts to extricate him, the conditions deteriorated, compelling the decision to amputate his leg in cooperation with the man, aiming to free him for an airlift to the hospital.

Doug Oosterloo, acting assistant commissioner at Tasmania Police, praised the technical prowess of the rescue operation, which involved significant risk and teamwork. The visiting kayaker now finds himself in critical condition but stabilized in the hospital. Five fellow kayakers were airlifted from the scene, and authorities plan to gather more information from them regarding the events leading to the accident. Oosterloo emphasized that the kayaker was equipped for the trip but faced unforeseen dangers when scouting the area and losing his footing. The police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this alarming near-fatal incident.