In brief
A kayaker in his 60s faced a life-threatening situation while on a kayaking expedition in Tasmania's Franklin River, leading to an emergency amputation during a tense 20-hour rescue operation. The foreign tourist's leg became trapped in rocks, prompting emergency responders to take action after receiving a distress signal from his smartwatch. Despite several attempts to free him, rescuers were unsuccessful, and the situation worsened overnight. Medical teams ultimately decided on amputation as the only viable option to save his life. He is currently in critical condition at a Hobart hospital, while authorities have begun the process of notifying his family.
The scene where the man became trapped in rocks on the Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia. By John Yoon, Nov. 23, 2024, 5:13 a.m. ET - A kayaker’s leg was amputated on Saturday in a harrowing 20-hour effort to free him after he became trapped in rocks on a river in Australia, the police in the state of Tasmania said. The man, a foreign tourist in his 60s, was then flown to a hospital in the city of Hobart, where he is in critical condition, the authorities added. The man, who has not been identified by the authorities, was on a group kayaking expedition on the Franklin River on Friday when his leg got stuck between rocks in a remote section of the rapids. Emergency teams responded after receiving a distress signal from a smartwatch at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the police reported. When rescuers reached the location, they attempted to free the kayaker but were unsuccessful by evening. The man remained partly submerged in the river overnight, while a medical team provided continuous support. In the morning, another extraction attempt also failed as his condition worsened. After consulting with the man, the medical team made the difficult decision to amputate his leg using specialized equipment. “This rescue was an extremely challenging and technical operation,” Doug Oosterloo, the acting assistant commissioner of the Tasmania Police, said. “Every effort was made to extract the man before the difficult decision to amputate his leg.” The police are currently in the process of contacting the man’s family. John Yoon is a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news. More about John Yoon.
