Join Peter Brindley and Leon Byker as they host David Bertoni, an ED physician and ECMO clinical lead, and Jorian 'Joe' Kippax, a trauma specialist and reservist, for an incredible story of a remote river rescue in Tasmania.
The team responds to a distress call from a trapped rafting party in the Franklin River, one of Tasmania's most remote and formidable areas. The rescue involves complex logistical challenges, a field amputation, and the use of ECMO technology amidst perilous conditions. The patient, after 20 hours trapped in frigid water, undergoes a harrowing yet successful rescue and recovery. This episode offers a gripping recount of teamwork, medical ingenuity, and human resilience.00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview00:40 Setting the Scene: Remote River Rescue01:39 The Rescue Operation Begins03:13 Challenges and Techniques in the Rescue07:25 Field Amputation and Extraction18:35 Transport and ECMO Preparation23:20 Hospital Arrival and ECMO Procedure26:18 Patient Recovery and Reflections30:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts