Jo Kippax's rescue efforts have led to him being named Australian of the Year for Tasmania. Photo: PR IMAGE PHOTO

An emergency doctor who helped save the life of a tourist who became stuck in a wilderness river has been crowned Tasmania's Australian of the Year.

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Jo Kippax was part of a specialist team who freed Lithuanian man Valdas Bieliauskas during a 24-hour ordeal in a freezing Franklin River in November 2024.

The team was forced to amputate Mr Bieliauskas's leg after attempts to free him proved fruitless.

He spent four days in a coma and several months in hospital before retu

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