An international visitor who became trapped under rocks on Tasmania’s remote West Coast has been forced to have his leg amputated so he could be freed.
The man in his 60s was packrafting the Franklin River in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park with a group of friends when his leg became wedged between rocks in an area of rapids at around 2:30pm on Friday.
Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo on Saturday afternoon said the man was alive but in a critical condition.
He described the operation, which spanned more than 20 hours and involved staff from several emergency services, as “complex and protracted”.
“This rescue was an extremely challenging and technical operation and an incredible effort over many hours to save the man’s life,” he said.
“Every effort was made to extract the man before the difficult decision to amputate his leg.”
Several unsuccessful attempts were made to free the man on Friday evening after the alarm was first raised, keeping him partly submerged in the river overnight.
A medical team remained with the man for the duration of the operation before a further attempt to extract him on Saturday morning was undertaken.
“A medical assessment determined the patient’s condition was deteriorating,” Oosterloo said.
“In consultation with the patient, the decision was made to amputate his leg to facilitate his rescue.”
“The operation was successfully undertaken by the medical team, with the aid of specialist equipment.”
Once free, the man was airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
“The professionalism and commitment of all emergency responders is to be commended,” Oosterloo said.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to this operation in the most difficult of circumstances.”
