Mark Dickey, a US explorer, has been successfully rescued from the confines of a Turkish cave where he was trapped for nine days, suffering from internal bleeding. The Turkish Caving Federation reported that Dickey was safely brought out of the cave’s last exit, marking the conclusion of a challenging cave rescue operation.
Dickey, aged 40, encountered stomach issues while exploring the intricate Morca Cave, situated deep within Turkey’s Taurus Mountains. This cave, the third-deepest in Turkey, extends to nearly 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) below the surface.
His illness struck at a depth of 1,120 meters (3,695 feet), prompting a monumental underground rescue mission—one of the largest and most complex ever conducted.
A multinational team of 200 rescuers, including fellow explorers and medical professionals of various nationalities, worked meticulously to extract Dickey safely. Before proceeding, they administered blood infusions to stabilize his condition. Dickey was then secured to a stretcher, which, at times, had to be hoisted vertically through the cave’s narrow passages. The rescuers periodically took breaks, returning to the surface before resuming their efforts below ground.
The Turkish Caving Federation expressed its congratulations to all those involved in the operation, emphasizing its success.
Dickey’s health had shown steady improvement over the preceding days, and he was generally in good health. Medical support had successfully addressed his stomach bleeding issues, employing plasma and serum.
During his ordeal, Dickey expressed gratitude to the Turkish government for its swift response and the provision of necessary medical supplies, which he believed played a pivotal role in saving his life.
The European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA) described Dickey as an experienced explorer with a medical background. He is highly respected within the international speleological community, possessing extensive training in cave exploration and rescue. Dickey serves as the secretary of the ECRA medical committee and is an instructor for cave rescue organizations in the United States.
