His leg remains stuck in a crevasse for 20 hours: a kayaker is amputated to be saved

He was participating in a group kayak outing, in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, on the Australian island of Tasmania, this Friday, November 22, 2024, reports CNN in particular.

Stuck for more than 20 hours

A 60-year-old man saw his leg caught in a crevasse while crossing a rapids area. A call for help was made by a smart watch around 3:30 p.m., Tasmania Police said in a statement posted on its official Facebook account.

The rescue operation was complex and lasted more than 20 hours, particularly due to the accessibility of the area on the Franklin River.

His condition deteriorates

Several attempts were made to extract the man, without success. A medical team remained with the patient throughout the procedure.

The kayaker's health began to deteriorate. In consultation with him, it was decided to amputate his leg to facilitate his rescue.

Critical condition

The patient was airlifted and airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

The man is an international visitor. Tasmania Police are in the process of contacting his family.
“This rescue was an extremely difficult and technical operation, and an incredible effort over many hours to save the man's lifesaid Acting Deputy Commissioner Doug Oosterloo, quoted in the press release. Every effort was made to extricate the man before making the difficult decision to amputate his leg.”