Kayaker's leg amputated at Tasmania river after 20-hour rescue to free him from rocks

A man's leg was amputated and he is fighting for his life after he was trapped between rocks of a raging river during a kayaking trip in Tasmania.

Officials said the man, an international tourist in his 60s, was kayaking with friends in the Franklin River when he slipped and became trapped between rocks in the river rapids on Friday afternoon.

Doug Oosterloo, the acting assistant police commissioner for Tasmania police, said the man's smartwatch made a call for assistance about an hour after getting stuck and it triggered a massive emergency response.