Check it out:


www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_i...0915152155564C638409


I would have done the same...

wow.. now that is staying composed and thinking under a stressful situation..

" Between a rock and a hard place"

People should carry their own amputation kits!

What I want to know is how he did it and what part? I guess under the situation you do what you have to do. One of my friends managed to vertically pin himself in a play boat and my mates that were with him reckoned that if the boat hadn't bent causing his leg to break he would have been in even more trouble. But actually breaking it yourself that takes balls of steel.

From what I've read, it sounds like he broke his lower leg bones (tibia/fibula) by twisting himself to wrench his leg free. Yikes! Balls of steel for sure.

You can read a copy of the kayakers media release - there's also a picture of the rapid and log he was stuck under. Biggest log I've ever seen in a river I tell ya!! That thing's huge!

www.adventurepro.com.au/forums/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1221438378

Here is a pic from Pishk's link:

i admire his bravery and the fact he managed to do that as i know its the best thing to do but ouch thats gotta hurt but at least he came out alive

I doubt he actually decided to break his leg. I can imagine he was fighting to get out, using a lot of force, and broke his leg in the process, which then made it possible to escape.

Then again, maybe he's one of those people who manage to think constructively under water and then make such complicated decisions. Me, I would just panic and maybe escape with a broken leg if I were lucky

I think we should publish an interview with the guy on Playak. Does anybody know who he is?

His name is Dave Wilson. A mate of his posted what he had to say on that link that Allen (Pishk) posted. At the end of his statement he says, "I will not be responding to any further media requests."

I wish him a speedy recovery! Luckily everyone came out ok.

Podcast:
media.mytalk.com.au/3AW/AUDIO/180909_DavidWilson.wma
Forum:
www.adventurepro.com.au/forums/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1221438378

This is Dave's text as posted in the Australian forum:

Hi guys,

Some more information on our misadventure.
Here is a copy of Dave Wilson's media release which should appear in the papers soon.
Level at the gauge was 0.95


I would like to say that I am very happy that all in my kayaking party are in good health and enjoying being with their families.

I have been through a pretty amazing experience and there are a lot of people I would like thank for their extraordinary efforts. Firstly my kayaking team of Nick, Stuart and Richard with whom I have enjoyed running countless rivers over the last twenty years. It was a real team effort and I am grateful for their preparedness and roles they each played in getting me out of the water, set up comfortably for a night out, kayaking out and getting assistance and then hiking back in and keeping me company for the night.

The local emergency services for their impressive response with representatives from the Ambulance, Mt Beauty and Tawonga CFA, Bright SES, Mt Beauty Police and volunteer search and rescue hiking in at night through rugged terrain to assist me within a few hours of being notified. The care and supplies they brought made the night a lot more comfortable and special thanks to Wayne from the local police for staying throughout the night.

In the morning the search and rescue and helicopter ambulance teams arrived and were very impressive in their professionalism, efficiency and courage at preparing and executing the rescue in very trying conditions.

The pilot held the helicopter closer to the trees than I would have thought possible. Since arriving the whole medical team at the Latrobe Regional Hospital has been fantastic. Overall it is humbling to have so many people turn out in my hour of need.

The West Kiewa river is one of the premiere white water rivers in Australia though it is infrequently run as it is only suitable for small experienced parties willing to hike in the 10km with kayaks and gear. I have been fortunate to run this river many times with the same people. On Sunday we worked our way down the river in the typical fashion scouting each rapid either from the kayak or the bank if required. By about 3pm we were approaching the end of the section and we entered a rapid that had the bottom obscured by a sharp bend but we knew it was a relatively straight forward rapid and decided to run it.

I was last in the group and when I came around the corner two thirds of the river was blocked by a large log lodged at an angle across the river with the main current flowing under it. The rest of the team had already encountered it and had fortunately managed to either go around, along or under it. It was too late to avoid it and I dropped in alongside the log and tried to slide along it but was immediately pinned to the bottom of the river with the water flowing over me from behind forcing my chest onto the front deck. With a huge effort I pushed up and was able to make a small air pocket but this was not sustainable and I knew it would be impossible to execute a rescue in that location. I popped the spraydeck, flooding the boat, and made a big push against the water to get my legs backwards and out of the kayak. Once I started to come up and out the kayak the water pushed me forward and up trapping my shins against the cockpit rim and my feet on the bottom of the boat. It was soon clear that I was not going come out so I pushed my upper body up to get the maximum force of water against it and leverage on my legs hoping that they would break. After a while with a sense of relief one did and allowed me to roll out of the boat. I came to the surface and swam into an eddy at the end of the log and was grateful to be pulled out of the water and looked after by my friends.

I will not be responding to any further media requests.

Thank you.
Dave Wilson

Attached is a photo of the offending log at the end of the "Spanker". This is 1 km above the gauge. See if you can spot the kayak.