"The Franklin River Ordeal: A Tale of Survival and Unyielding Spirit"

In the heart of Tasmania's untamed wilderness, a routine leap from one boulder to another on the Franklin River turned into a nightmare for Valdas Bieliauskas, a seasoned adventurer. With over 50 years of rafting experience, Valdas had performed similar maneuvers countless times. However, on this occasion, the unforgiving terrain betrayed him. As he slipped, his leg became wedged between two boulders, trapping him in the icy grip of the river's rapids.

"My friends tied ropes around me and tried hauling me out," Valdas recounted to Australian Story from his home in Lithuania. "But the leg was so tightly wedged that their efforts were fruitless." The river's relentless force, approximately 50 tonnes of water per second, cascaded over him, marking the beginning of a grueling 20-hour rescue operation that would test the limits of human endurance and ingenuity.

This incident, unfolding on November 22, 2024, in the Great Ravine—a spectacular yet formidable gorge—sparked one of Tasmania's most complex rescue missions. For the first time, Australian Story reveals the daunting challenges rescuers faced, including severe injuries and unexpected equipment failures. The situation grew so dire that they contemplated a last-resort, high-risk underwater amputation.

Valdas, a 69-year-old Lithuanian, had embarked on this adventure with a group of paddling companions, aiming to conquer rivers across five continents. Their journey brought them to Australia, the final leg of their expedition. As the group of 11 navigated the Franklin River, they opted to portage their catarafts through the treacherous stretch rather than risk running the rapids.

Valdas's misstep occurred after midday, as he scouted the route on foot. "I think it was my hydro-boot with its hard sole that made it slippery on rock," he explained. Trapped in the Coruscades rapid, submerged up to his chest in water just 10 degrees Celsius, Valdas's friends struggled for 40 minutes to free him. When their efforts proved futile, they sent an SOS via satellite phone.

The rescue operation that followed was nothing short of extraordinary. Over five hours, police, paramedics, doctors, and swift water rescuers were winched into the remote location. They employed spreaders, hydraulics, and airbags to create space between the boulders, drilled a tripod into the rocks for a pulley system, and attempted to shift Valdas's body in various directions.

"The rescuer even grabbed me by the waist to haul me up, but my leg wouldn't budge," Valdas recalled. "I think, if he'd been stronger, like Schwarzenegger, he might have managed to uproot me, leaving the leg behind." Despite their best efforts, every attempt failed, leaving them with one grim option.

As night fell, the rescuers remained by Valdas's side. His friends provided hot drinks every 30 minutes to stave off hypothermia, but the elements were taking their toll. By early morning, it was clear that the only remaining option was to amputate Valdas's leg—a decision fraught with moral and medical dilemmas.

Dr. Nick Scott, the only doctor among the rescue crew, prepared for the daunting task of performing an underwater amputation. However, fate intervened once more. As he approached the water's edge, he slipped and broke his wrist, rendering him unable to proceed.

The urgency of the situation demanded swift action, and a second doctor, Jorian 'Jo' Kippax, was flown in. An experienced white-water kayaker himself, Jo faced the daunting task with trepidation. "There was a moment, a real sense of, I really, really don't want to do this," he admitted.

With Valdas under the influence of ketamine, Jo began the procedure by feel, as visibility was impossible. The delicate Gigli saw snapped during the operation, but Jo managed to complete the amputation, freeing Valdas within minutes.

Despite the success of the procedure, Valdas's ordeal was far from over. Hypothermia had set in, and his heart stopped beating. Paramedics placed him on a mechanical CPR machine before winching him to a helicopter.

Valdas's arrival at the hospital in Hobart marked the beginning of another battle—for his life. The ECMO machine, which warmed and oxygenated his blood, played a crucial role in his recovery. After four days in a coma, Valdas awoke to the sound of a hymn, a poignant reminder of his brush with death.

The medical team, including Jo, who had become Valdas's treating doctor, celebrated his survival. "I felt like I had to apologize," Jo said. "We both looked at his leg, and looked at each other, and said, 'I'm sorry, this is the way it is.'"

Valdas, however, harbored no resentment. "Otherwise I would still be stuck there to this day," he acknowledged. "I would have two legs, but I would still be over there."

In the months following the accident, Valdas returned to Lithuania, where he began the arduous process of rehabilitation. His sister Rasa, a steadfast presence in his recovery, noted, "This accident has given me the understanding that in life, everything is possible. Every challenge can be overcome."

Valdas's indomitable spirit remains unbroken. He now walks with a prosthesis and harbors a "crazy idea" to return to the Franklin River in 2026, determined to complete the journey that changed his life. "I don't know whether anyone has ever gone rafting with a prosthesis," he mused.

His friend Arvydas, who witnessed the harrowing rescue, would join him, as would Jo, who formed a lasting bond with Valdas. "Valdas is a tremendously strong, independent, accomplished person," Jo said. "This idea that Valdas might want to come back and do the Franklin doesn't surprise me one little bit."

The Franklin River ordeal stands as a testament to human resilience and the power of friendship. Valdas's story, marked by tragedy and triumph, serves as a poignant reminder that life, with all its challenges, is indeed a beautiful thing.