Sydney - An Australian kayaker gritted his teeth and snapped his own leg to avoid drowning when his upturned craft became lodged under a tree, news reports said Monday.

The 38-year-old was paddling with friends on Victoria's remote West Kiewa River on Sunday when the accident happened.

"If he didn't break his leg to free himself, he was going to drown," paramedic Anthony de Wit told Australia's AAP news agency.

"The river flow was so great, he was trapped under the tree and broke his leg to free himself and avoid drowning." (dpa)