Extraordinary Rescue of Rafter Valdas Bieliauskas on Franklin River

In a dramatic and harrowing incident on November 22, 2024, Valdas Bieliauskas, an experienced Lithuanian rafter, fell into the treacherous waters of the Franklin River in Tasmania, triggering a complex rescue operation that would last nearly 24 hours. Bieliauskas, 66, was part of a group attempting a multi-day pack-rafting journey along the river when he slipped and became trapped between two boulders in the raging rapids. The rescue operation, described as one of the most intricate in Tasmania's history, faced numerous challenges, including severe weather conditions and equipment failures.

As the water poured over him at a staggering rate of 13 tonnes per second, Bieliauskas's friends attempted to free him using ropes, but their efforts were futile. They ultimately sent an SOS message via satellite phone, prompting a coordinated response from emergency services, including police and paramedics. According to Rohan Kilham, an intensive care flight paramedic involved in the rescue, the situation quickly escalated as the rescuers recognized the life-threatening nature of Bieliauskas's predicament.

Rescue teams utilized various tools, including hydraulic spreaders and airbags, to create space between the boulders. However, as the hours passed, the possibility of successful extraction dwindled. The teams faced a sobering reality: only one option remained—an underwater amputation of Bieliauskas’s trapped leg. "It was a big mental hurdle, realizing that we were going to cut his leg off," Kilham recalled in an interview with Australian media.

As night fell, the situation became increasingly dire. Hypothermia began to set in, and the rescuers prepared to make the life-altering decision. Arvydas Rudokas, a fellow rafter and medical doctor, was tasked with conveying the grim news to Bieliauskas, who was surprisingly calm despite his dire circumstances. "He asked, ‘So I will become handicapped?’” Rudokas recounted. “Maybe, Valdas. But if not, you will die here in this hole.” Bieliauskas consented to the amputation, acknowledging the severity of his situation.

The operation was fraught with complications; the appointed surgeon, Dr. Nick Scott, suffered a wrist injury during his descent to the water's edge, complicating the already precarious amputation procedure. Eventually, Dr. Jorian Kippax, another experienced kayaker and doctor, was flown in to replace Scott. The amputation took place under extreme conditions, with Kippax improvising due to the unavailability of general anesthesia and using a makeshift tourniquet system. "It was like stepping off a cliff. All of a sudden from that point, you were in freefall and the only endpoint is an amputated leg," paramedic Rohan Kilham described the moment.

After the amputation, Bieliauskas was extracted from the water, but his battle for survival was far from over. Initial resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and he was placed on a mechanical CPR machine. Emergency medical personnel raced him to a hospital in Hobart, where he was placed on an ECMO machine to stabilize his condition. Remarkably, Bieliauskas responded to treatment and regained consciousness after several days in a coma. Upon waking, he expressed gratitude for the rescue efforts and his new lease on life.

Valdas Bieliauskas has since returned to Lithuania, where he continues his recovery and has even expressed a desire to return to the Franklin River in 2026 to complete the journey that changed his life. "I survived. I endured. That’s the greatest joy," he stated, reflecting on his experience. His story serves as a testament to human resilience and the extraordinary lengths to which rescuers will go to save a life. As the rescue teams also noted, the series of fortunate and unfortunate events during the incident highlighted the importance of preparation and teamwork in emergency response situations.