Tasmania Tourist Suffers Life-Altering Accident During Kayaking Expedition

The incident demonstrates the perils of outdoor activities; the injured tourist was trapped in a rock crevice in a rapid river, leading to critical medical decisions made by rescuers amid challenging conditions.

 

In a harrowing incident in Tasmania, a tourist has had to undergo a leg amputation after becoming trapped between rocks while kayaking with friends. The individual, in his 60s, encountered difficulties while scouting the area, where he slipped and fell into a rock crevice in a river known for its rapids. The incident occurred on a Friday afternoon, and medical teams were faced with a "life or death" decision during a rescue operation that extended over 20 hours.

Rescuers noted that the tourist was partially submerged and vulnerable to life-threatening conditions. Tasmania Police stated that multiple attempts to extricate him were futile before concluding that amputation was necessary to facilitate his removal from the treacherous situation.

The prompt action of emergency services was initiated when the man’s smartwatch summoned help after he became stuck in an inaccessible area. Doug Oosterloo, acting assistant commissioner at Tasmania Police, commented on the extraordinary efforts of the rescue teams, highlighting that the operation was among the most technically challenging they had undertaken.

Despite being well-prepared for the kayaking trip, the man's predicament escalated as he faced significant exposure to cold water for an extended duration. Meanwhile, the other ten individuals who were part of his kayaking group were airlifted to safety, with plans for police to interview them about the circumstances leading to the accident.

The unsettling event serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with outdoor adventure sports, even for those who consider themselves seasoned.