In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen recount the harrowing 20-hour survival and rescue ordeal of 65-year-old Lithuanian adventurer Valdas Bieliauskas in the wilderness of Tasmania. After a tragic fall left Valdas' leg wedged between t...
In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen recount the harrowing 20-hour survival and rescue ordeal of 65-year-old Lithuanian adventurer Valdas Bieliauskas in the wilderness of Tasmania. After a tragic fall left Valdas' leg wedged between two boulders in freezing rapids, his friends and a dedicated Australian rescue team faced impossible decisions and extraordinary challenges. The rescue's climax involved an underwater amputation performed with minimal resources, saving Valdas' life. This story underscores human resilience, the capabilities of modern emergency medicine, and the extraordinary courage of wilderness rescue professionals.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:32 The Incident on the Franklin River
04:03 The Rescue Operation Begins
07:04 The Struggle to Free Valdas
16:24 Critical Decisions and Final Attempts
21:13 A Desperate Situation
21:43 The Arrival of Dr. Kippax
22:57 The Underwater Amputation
26:39 A Race Against Time
29:15 The Miracle of Hypothermia
30:42 A Remarkable Recovery
34:14 Reflections on Risk and Rescue
38:52 Valdas' Future Plans
41:44 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
42:57 Closing Remarks
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