Tengrinews.kz - A 60-year-old foreign tourist was left in critical condition and lost his leg after being trapped for more than 20 hours between rocks in Australia, according to The Independent.
The incident occurred Friday afternoon when the man fell into the water while rafting on the Franklin River in southwestern Tasmania as part of a group expedition.
According to reports, the man’s smartwatch sent a distress signal to rescuers about an hour after the fall, pinpointing his location.
Rescuers made several attempts on Friday evening and Saturday morning to free the man, who was partially submerged in water during this time.
"This was a life and death situation and the decision was made in consultation with the patient to amputate his leg to be able to remove him from the rock crevice," said acting assistant police commissioner Doug Oosterloo.
The man remains in critical condition, but medical professionals stated that the emergency actions were the only way to save his life.
The man’s left leg was amputated above the knee while he was under anesthesia.
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