Rescue teams are awaiting medical clearance for an operation to evacuate an American researcher who fell seriously ill nearly 1,000 meters (over 3,000 feet) below the entrance of a cave in Turkey. Mark Dickey, a 40-year-old experienced caver, experienced stomach bleeding during an expedition in the Morca cave in southern Turkey’s Taurus Mountains. The cause of his illness remains unclear. The rescue effort may extend up to 10 days.
Rescue teams from across Europe, including doctors who have provided medical treatment inside the cave, have rushed to assist Dickey. Once medical approval is obtained, the evacuation operation will commence.
Preparations for the evacuation are complete, with small “medical camps” and a “mini laboratory” established at various levels along the cave shaft to monitor Dickey’s condition. Doctors will accompany him throughout the ascent, and the duration of the rescue will depend on whether he can climb with assistance or requires a stretcher due to worsening health.
The European Cave Rescue Association has divided the cave into seven sections, with different rescue teams responsible for each level. Improved communication lines within the cave have been established to facilitate the operation.
The Morca cave is one of the world’s deepest, characterized by numerous vertical shafts and limited horizontal sections. Given its complexity, Dickey is expected to be carried up on a stretcher.
Doctors have administered IV fluids and 4 liters of blood inside the cave, with teams of medical personnel and experienced cavers taking turns caring for Dickey. Over 170 individuals, including doctors, paramedics, and cavers, are participating in the rescue operation, representing Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Turkey.
Dickey expressed his gratitude to the caving community and the Turkish government for their rapid response and efforts to rescue him. In a video message, he acknowledged the support he had received and emphasized the importance of the quick supply of medical necessities, which he believed had saved his life.
The researcher, affiliated with a New Jersey-based cave rescue group, had experienced bleeding and fluid loss from his stomach but had stopped vomiting and consumed food for the first time in days.
Mark Dickey is known as a highly trained caver and cave rescuer, with extensive experience in cave research and participation in international expeditions. He serves as the secretary of the European Association of Cave Rescuers’ medical committee.
Dickey was part of an expedition to map the 1,276-meter (4,186-foot) deep Morca cave system conducted by the Anatolian Speleology Group Association when he encountered health issues on September 2. However, it wasn’t until the morning of September 3 that the situation was reported to those above ground.