A massive rescue operation is underway in southern Turkey to save an American explorer who was trapped 3,400 feet from the entrance of the Morca Cave outside the district of Anamur.
Mark Dickey, the 40-year-old American caver, started experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding while with an expedition team in the cave, one of the deepest in Turkey. An international team is moving Dickey out of the cave via a stretcher.
Read live updates on the rescue mission:
Rescue Mission Reaches Final 100 Meters
Mark Dickey is nearing the cave exit.The Turkish Caving Federation announced Monday that rescue crews have only 100 meters left to escort Dickey toward the mouth of the cave, and that he would likely be "out tonight."
Rescue Mission Likely To Be Completed By Tomorrow: Turkish Caving Federation
The Turkish Caving Federation said the operation to rescue Dickey is entering its final stage and will hopefully be completed by tomorrow at the latest.
Rescuers will resume their mission to free Dickey from -180 meters after he takes some time to rest.
"If everything goes well, it is aimed to rescue Mark completely by tonight or tomorrow," the group wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Rescuers will resume their mission to free Dickey from -180 meters after he takes some time to rest.
"If everything goes well, it is aimed to rescue Mark completely by tonight or tomorrow," the group wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
European Cave Rescue Association
Rescue Operation Reaches Its Next Stop
Dickey's rescue team has brought him to the -500m camp, the European Cave Rescue Association said Sunday evening local time. His status is stable, and the rescue team members are in good physical condition.
The group shared some photos of the site here .
The group shared some photos of the site here .
On To The Next Camp
According to the Turkish Caving Federation, Dickey was delivered to the campsite at -700 meters at 3:24 a.m. local time. Dickey rested and received the necessary treatments at the site before continuing the journey.
At 9:55 a.m. local time, rescuers began the second stage of the mission by transporting Dickey on a stretcher to the next camp. The second camp is at -500 meters, meaning Dickey and the rescue team need to travel about 200 meters or about 656 feet to reach it.
At 9:55 a.m. local time, rescuers began the second stage of the mission by transporting Dickey on a stretcher to the next camp. The second camp is at -500 meters, meaning Dickey and the rescue team need to travel about 200 meters or about 656 feet to reach it.
Dickey Is Close To The Campsite
The rescue team has been working throughout the day to transport Dickey, and as of this evening, Dickey has reached -700 meters the goal for the first stage of the mission.
But the climber has yet to reach the campsite, which is located at that depth. According to the Turkish Caving Federation, there is still a horizontal and narrow passage between him and the campsite.
Over the past 10 hours, the rescue team has helped transport Dickey a total of 300 meters, or 984 feet.
But the climber has yet to reach the campsite, which is located at that depth. According to the Turkish Caving Federation, there is still a horizontal and narrow passage between him and the campsite.
Over the past 10 hours, the rescue team has helped transport Dickey a total of 300 meters, or 984 feet.
Rescue Operation Has Begun
The mission to rescue Dickey is underway, The Associated Press reported , citing a Turkish disaster management agency.
Previously, rescuers were waiting for the OK from doctors to attempt to move the man, who began suffering from severe gastrointestinal pain while more than 3,000 feet below the entrance of Turkey's Morca Cave.
Previously, rescuers were waiting for the OK from doctors to attempt to move the man, who began suffering from severe gastrointestinal pain while more than 3,000 feet below the entrance of Turkey's Morca Cave.
Cave Expansion And Texting System Are Underway
Cavers from the eight countries working to extract Dickey have begun using explosives to widen some narrow passages, allowing them to accommodate a stretcher, according to a New York Times report Friday. Theyve also been installing a wireless texting system called Cave-Link as a backup to the phone line running down the cave.
This is one of the most difficult cave rescue operations in the world, Recep Salci, the head of rescue efforts for Turkeys national disaster relief organization, told the Times.
This is one of the most difficult cave rescue operations in the world, Recep Salci, the head of rescue efforts for Turkeys national disaster relief organization, told the Times.
Rescue Efforts Could Begin As Soon As Saturday
The mission to rescue Mark Dickey could begin as soon as Saturday, as a coalition of more than 200 rescue workers makes final preparations for the monumental effort, Turkish rescue officials said.
With this good news, with doctors saying you can take him out now, slowly, tomorrow or the next day at the latest, we will start his rescue, Recep alc, head of search and rescue for Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, told NBC News .
With this good news, with doctors saying you can take him out now, slowly, tomorrow or the next day at the latest, we will start his rescue, Recep alc, head of search and rescue for Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, told NBC News .
Rescue Teams Prepare To Help Free Dickey
The European Cave Rescue Association said rescuers are adding more ropes and fixings and installing an additional communications system to facilitate Dickey's way out.
The cave has been divided into seven parts. A different rescue team will be responsible for each of those segments, the group wrote in an update posted on its website at 7:30 a.m. ET.
"The doctors are working to further improve the patients [health] so that the difficult transport to the surface can begin soon without further complications," the group added.
The cave has been divided into seven parts. A different rescue team will be responsible for each of those segments, the group wrote in an update posted on its website at 7:30 a.m. ET.
"The doctors are working to further improve the patients [health] so that the difficult transport to the surface can begin soon without further complications," the group added.
Rescue Mission Could Take Up To 4 Days: Official
Cenk Yildiz, a regional official from Turkeys disaster relief agency, told the IHA news agency the rescue mission for Mark Dickey could take up to four days.
"The doctors we sent down were very successful in treating him," Yildiz said. "We are now in a position to evacuate him."
Yildiz, though, added the operation remains challenging.
"It would take a (healthy) person 16 hours to come out," Yildiz explained. "This operation will last at least three or four days. Our priority is health. Our aim is to conclude this operation without anyone coming under any danger."
"The doctors we sent down were very successful in treating him," Yildiz said. "We are now in a position to evacuate him."
Yildiz, though, added the operation remains challenging.
"It would take a (healthy) person 16 hours to come out," Yildiz explained. "This operation will last at least three or four days. Our priority is health. Our aim is to conclude this operation without anyone coming under any danger."
AP Graphic
Graphic Shows Complexity Needed For Rescue Effort
Dickey is trapped about 3,400 feet from the entrance to the cave, deep below ground. Any recovery effort will be enormously complex, as the passage is too narrow at points for a stretcher to pass through, The Associated Press notes .
Yusuf Ogrenecek, an expert with the Speleological Federation of Turkey, told the wire service cave rescues are labor intensive, requiring people to work in mud, water and at low temperatures for long periods of time.
Yusuf Ogrenecek, an expert with the Speleological Federation of Turkey, told the wire service cave rescues are labor intensive, requiring people to work in mud, water and at low temperatures for long periods of time.
Key Things To Know
- American explorer Mark Dickey, a seasoned caver, was on a trip to explore Turkeys deep Morca Cave when he developed severe gastrointestinal pain and bleeding while thousands of feet underground, preventing him from making what would typically be a 15-hour journey to the surface.
- Once authorities were alerted, one of several international rescue groups made its way to the 40-year-old caver and administered livesaving medical care. His condition has improved but not enough for him to climb out without great assistance, and likely the help of a stretcher.
- Rescuers are developing a plan to extract Dickey and hope to begin the mission Saturday or Sunday. In order to navigate a stretcher through the narrow passageways, crews are widening parts of the cave and addressing the risk of falling rocks. Extraction could take as long as 15 days, rescuers warn.
- Communication between the trapped caver and the outside world takes about five to seven hours, with runners going between his location and a phone line just below the caves entrance to share updates on his well-being.
- In a video message from inside the cave, Dickey remarked: I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge. He thanked the really tight-knit international caving community.
AP Images
The Current Rescue Plans
Plans are underway for rescue crews to extract Dickey this weekend. Marton Kovacs of the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service, which was the first to arrive at Dickeys location, told The Associated Press that teams are working to widen some passages enough for a stretcher to pass and address the risk of falling rocks.
Rescue crews are hoping to begin Dickeys extraction Saturday or Sunday and expect it to take several days, possibly weeks.
"If he has to be carried in a stretcher. It will most likely take 10-15 days, maybe more, Dr. Yaman Ozakin, a spokesman for the Turkish Caving Federation, told The BBC .
Rescue teams from different countries are responsible for seven different sections of the cave, Cave Rescue Bulgaria explained in a Facebook update , adding that they may be able to forgo a stretcher in the tightest spots given that Dickeys condition has improved.
An Italian rescuer who oversaw a 2014 cave rescue in Germany has been put in charge of the overall plan, the Bulgarian team said.
Rescue crews are hoping to begin Dickeys extraction Saturday or Sunday and expect it to take several days, possibly weeks.
"If he has to be carried in a stretcher. It will most likely take 10-15 days, maybe more, Dr. Yaman Ozakin, a spokesman for the Turkish Caving Federation, told The BBC .
Rescue teams from different countries are responsible for seven different sections of the cave, Cave Rescue Bulgaria explained in a Facebook update , adding that they may be able to forgo a stretcher in the tightest spots given that Dickeys condition has improved.
An Italian rescuer who oversaw a 2014 cave rescue in Germany has been put in charge of the overall plan, the Bulgarian team said.
A Timeline Of The Cave Rescue So Far
Saturday, Sept. 2: The European Cave Rescue Association receives a call that a member of an expedition team has fallen ill in the cave with severe gastric pain. Dickey is at a camp 3,400 feet from the entrance.
Sunday, Sept. 3: A team from the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service, including a doctor, travel to the cave and descend, reaching Dickey. They set up an intensive medical care tent.
Monday, Sept. 4: Other rescue teams from Hungary and Bulgaria arrive. A total of 17 people are on-site to provide aid.
Tuesday, Sept. 5: Recovery planning is underway to tackle the logistical issues of removing Dickey from deep underground. It would take around 15 hours for an experienced caver to reach the surface in ideal conditions.
Wednesday, Sept. 6: Other teams from Italy, Croatia and Poland are on their way to the site.
Thursday, Sept. 7: Dickey releases a video thanking Turkish first responders and the caving community. I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge.
Sunday, Sept. 3: A team from the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service, including a doctor, travel to the cave and descend, reaching Dickey. They set up an intensive medical care tent.
Monday, Sept. 4: Other rescue teams from Hungary and Bulgaria arrive. A total of 17 people are on-site to provide aid.
Tuesday, Sept. 5: Recovery planning is underway to tackle the logistical issues of removing Dickey from deep underground. It would take around 15 hours for an experienced caver to reach the surface in ideal conditions.
Wednesday, Sept. 6: Other teams from Italy, Croatia and Poland are on their way to the site.
Thursday, Sept. 7: Dickey releases a video thanking Turkish first responders and the caving community. I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge.
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