Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

[Overlandman]

Tasmania Police Update

Despite extensive search efforts in the Cradle Mountain area over the past few days, Victorian man Christopher Inwood has not been located.

Today, we made the decision to scale back the active search for the 52-year-old.

The area in Cradle Mountain where Mr Inwood was last believed to be has been comprehensively searched, and police will continue to follow up any new leads or information that may assist in locating him.

Our thoughts remain with his family during this difficult time.

Given the length of time he has been missing and the harsh weather conditions in the area, expert advice indicates his chances of survival are extremely low.

If anyone has information about Mr Inwood’s location or his recent movements, please call police on 131 444.

[Ms_Mudd]

I went walking Tues morn to Wed arvo and saw the van not long after it was discovered, didn't know anyone was missing at that point, but what I saw was weird. I heard via my inreach that evening from my husband that someone was missing and figured it had sonething to do with the van. Westpac chopper out stopping off at the huts on the Wednesday.

Sad whatever has transpired as I imagine no good news to be had.

[tas-man]

If the backpack was found about 500 metres along there road to dove Lake from the Rangers Centre carpark, that is where the old Dove Canyon track used to start from, before the boardwalk from Rangers to Ronny Creek was constructed. I assume the area between the Dove Lake road and the boardwalk was thoroughly searched?

[Overlandman]

Story from ABC, getting ready for the next few days of bad weather.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-24/ ... /105454888

Police have cited a series of "avoidable" rescues involving people ill-equipped for the changeable conditions as part of their plea for people to "be prepared and stay safe" when adventuring in Tasmania during winter.
Among almost 200 helicopter rescue missions in the 2024/2025 financial year, one involved a "family with a small child" who spent "two nights huddled together in blizzard conditions" before they could be extracted.

[Overlandman]

From Rotorlift Facebook page

The ABC’s Australian Story has produced a two-part story covering last years Franklin River rescue. Pt 1 will air on Monday (30/6) followed by pt 2 on the following Monday (7/7). This is a remarkable story and it really goes to show how fortunate we are as a state to have such incredible and dedicated professionals including ambos, doctors, police rescue, swiftwater rescue, firies, pilots, aircrew officers, and hospital personnel, to name a few, who serve our community.

Australian Story airs on Mondays on ABC, or stream on ABC iview

[myrtlegirl]

From Rotorlift Facebook page

The ABC’s Australian Story has produced a two-part story covering last years Franklin River rescue. Pt 1 will air on Monday (30/6) followed by pt 2 on the following Monday (7/7). This is a remarkable story and it really goes to show how fortunate we are as a state to have such incredible and dedicated professionals including ambos, doctors, police rescue, swiftwater rescue, firies, pilots, aircrew officers, and hospital personnel, to name a few, who serve our community.

Australian Story airs on Mondays on ABC, or stream on ABC iview

This will answer many questions posed by folks who followed this while sitting in comfy lounge rooms. Amongst the first words in the preview: "How does someone's leg go into a crack and not come out?"

I have no connection to the rafters or rescuers, haven't been down the Franklin (yet), yet I feel surprisingly emotional about this rescue - has anyone else had this reaction?

[Tortoise]

I can relate. It was the most complex, challenging rescue I can remember. So many decisions to be made in extraordinarily difficult circumstances, with life and death consequences for rescuers and the injured man. It was an incredible effort by a huge team, and I can only imagine how hard some of the decisions were to make. Thanks for the heads up, Overlandman.

[myrtlegirl]

From Rotorlift Facebook page

The ABC’s Australian Story has produced a two-part story covering last years Franklin River rescue. Pt 1 will air on Monday (30/6) followed by pt 2 on the following Monday (7/7). This is a remarkable story and it really goes to show how fortunate we are as a state to have such incredible and dedicated professionals including ambos, doctors, police rescue, swiftwater rescue, firies, pilots, aircrew officers, and hospital personnel, to name a few, who serve our community.

Australian Story airs on Mondays on ABC, or stream on ABC iview

This will answer a lot of questions from folks who saw this event pan out while sitting in comfy lounge rooms and wondering about the why and how. As the promo says: "How does someone's leg go into a crack and not come out?"

I have no connection with the rafters or rescuers, and haven't been down the Franklin (yet), but I had a surprisingly emotional reaction to this story at the time, and still do - anyone else felt this?

[matagi]

From Rotorlift Facebook page

The ABC’s Australian Story has produced a two-part story covering last years Franklin River rescue. Pt 1 will air on Monday (30/6) followed by pt 2 on the following Monday (7/7). This is a remarkable story and it really goes to show how fortunate we are as a state to have such incredible and dedicated professionals including ambos, doctors, police rescue, swiftwater rescue, firies, pilots, aircrew officers, and hospital personnel, to name a few, who serve our community.

Australian Story airs on Mondays on ABC, or stream on ABC iview

This will answer many questions posed by folks who followed this while sitting in comfy lounge rooms. Amongst the first words in the preview: "How does someone's leg go into a crack and not come out?"

I have no connection to the rafters or rescuers, haven't been down the Franklin (yet), yet I feel surprisingly emotional about this rescue - has anyone else had this reaction?

One theory about why his leg couldn't come out is that he might have broken the lower part of his leg on the way in and so it couldn't come out straight.

[matagi]

And if anyone is wondering, no, they did not retrieve the lower part of his leg after the amputation.

[north-north-west]

"How does someone's leg go into a crack and not come out?"

Angles and direction of movement are everything. You learn this quickly when caving or climbing.
My foot slipped into a gap amongst some rocks during a walk early last summer. I eventually had to unlace and loosen the boot to pull the foot out and then get the boot itself out afterwards. If I hadn't been able to get that hand in there and do that I might still be there.

[Overlandman]

From ABC
Shows footage of the initial slip and entry into the water.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-29/ ... /105420916

[Son of a Beach]

What I'd already read about this story was already mind-blowingly amazing before this update. But now it's at a whole new level, yet again.

The doctor broke his own arm just before he was about to start the amputation, so he had to be flown out and replaced with another doctor. The second doctor broke the saw blade after cutting most of the way through the femur (easily done with a fragile blade, made for controlled operating theatres, when working under fast-flowing water!). He then had to snap the femur by hand - correction (as per post below): by kicking it, apparently!

Most of the amputation was done by feel, because he couldn't see what was underwater, and with gloves off, so he could actually feel what he was doing.

Incredible stuff!

Seeing the video of the actual moment nearly brought tears to my eyes.

There were actually two videos of the moment shown on ABC TV news. The one not included on the web page looks like it was taken from an airborne drone. I wonder if they had permission for it. Not that I care, in this particular case (I would normally be annoyed by people flouting such rules).

[johnw]

What I'd already read about this story was already mind-blowingly amazing before this update. But now it's at a whole new level, yet again.

The doctor broke his own arm just before he was about to start the amputation, so he had to be flown out and replaced with another doctor. The second doctor broke the saw blade after cutting most of the way through the femur (easily done with a fragile blade, made for controlled operating theatres, when working under fast-flowing water!). He then had to snap the femur by hand.

Most of the amputation was done by feel, because he couldn't see what was underwater, and with gloves off, so he could actually feel what he was doing.

Incredible stuff!

Seeing the video of the actual moment nearly brought tears to my eyes.

There were actually two videos of the moment shown on ABC TV news. The one not included on the web page looks like it was taken from an airborne drone. I wonder if they had permission for it. Not that I care, in this particular case (I would normally be annoyed by people flouting such rules).

It's pouring rain here today so stuck indoors. I walked through the living room earlier and noticed my wife watching a rafting doco on ABC iView.
Unusual, as she isn't a bushwalker or outdoors type at all. Anyway I realised that it was the rescue/amputation from the Franklin so I ended up watching most of it.
It's part one of a 2 part series by Australian Story and runs for 30 minutes. The 2nd part hasn't been released yet. Shows much of the rescue operation and commentary from all involved.
If you don't already have one you will need to create a free ABC iView account, and log in.
The River (Part 1): https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2502Q019S00

[matagi]

No, he didn't snap the femur by hand, he kicked it to break it. This bloke had very tough bones. I've attended two presentations on this rescue already and I still find the whole thing mind blowing.

As an aside they used a Gigli saw for the amputation which is basically a thick wire with handles at each end. It was originally developed by an Italian obstetrician for cutting the pubic sympyisis to facilitate delivery in obstructed labour.

They broke another couple in the operating theatre cleaning up the stump.

[Overlandman]

Looking forward to part 2 tonight

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-07/ ... /105485760

The Lithuanian president presented Jorian "Jo" Kippax with the country's Life Saving Cross in recognition of his role in rescuing rafter Valdas Bieliauskas last year.
Dr Kippax amputated Mr Bieliauskas's leg, which had become stuck in boulders in Tasmania's Franklin River.
The Hobart doctor said he was honoured to receive the award on behalf of all of those involved in the rescue.

[Overlandman]

Certainly a gripping story. Well done to all the rescue team, medical team & all the best to Valdas. A great survivor.

[matagi]

"Australian people helped me survive and it brings tears to my eyes when I remember their care," Valdas told the ABC.

"If it had happened in a place other than Australia, heaven knows what would have happened to me."

I was glad to see he had a prosthetic leg. All the previous images showed him either in a wheelchair or on crutches with only one leg.
He still has a long way to go in his rehabilitation, but I do hope he makes it back to finish the trip.