A kayaker from Lithuania lost his leg after getting stuck between rocks in a rushing river in Tasmania, local police reported. After the “extremely difficult” rescue operation, the 65-year-old was taken to a local hospital. On Sunday, his condition was assessed as critical.
The incident occurred on Saturday on the Franklin River in southwestern Tasmania. 65-year-old man from Lithuania It became wedged between rocks and remained partially submerged for 20 hours, Tasmania Police said in a Facebook post. It added that the decision to amputate the injured man's leg was made after “many attempts” to free him. The 65-year-old was taken to a local hospital. On Sunday, his condition was assessed as critical.
They were “well prepared and experienced”
According to the authorities, the man belonged to a group of ten people from Lithuania who “were well prepared and experienced.” Australia was the fifth and last country on their expedition route. The group members were kayaking when the accident occurred. Emergency services arrived at the scene after the 65-year-old alerted them using his smartwatch, the BBC reported.
The Franklin River in a photo released by Tasmania Police Tasmania Police via CNN Newsource
“A matter of life and death”
– This was an extremely difficult (…) operation, said officer Doug Ossterloo, quoted in a police statement, referring to the “incredible effort over many hours” to save the man. – It was a matter of life and death – he added in an interview with the Australian ABC station. Oosterloo pointed out that although the kayaker was “well prepared”, he was not ready to “stay in a rock crevice for such a long time, at such a temperature and with the rushing stream of water under which he was”.
Main photo source: Tasmania Police