American researcher Mark Dickey, 40, has been trapped almost 1,000 meters below the entrance of Turkey’s Morca cave due to severe stomach bleeding. Dickey, an experienced caver, was part of an expedition with fellow Americans in the Taurus Mountains. The European Association of Cave Rescuers swiftly responded to this critical situation.
Despite the efforts of a Hungarian doctor and other rescuers who have reached Dickey and provided medical care, extracting him from the narrow cave passages poses a formidable challenge. The tight spaces make it impractical for a stretcher to navigate easily. The operation is expected to span days, potentially even weeks.
From within the cave, Dickey conveyed his gratitude to the caving community and the Turkish government for their swift response in a video message released by Turkey’s communications directorate. While he remains alert and communicative, Dickey stressed that he requires significant assistance to exit the cave. His condition has stabilized, with no further instances of vomiting. He has managed to consume food after several days of being unable to.
Communication with Dickey is a time-intensive process, taking approximately five to seven hours for messages to traverse between him and the surface camp. This task is carried out by dedicated runners who shuttle messages back and forth.
The rescue operation demands a multi-faceted effort, involving numerous teams and a continuous stream of medical care. The cave’s cold temperatures, ranging from 4-6 degrees Celsius (39-42 degrees Fahrenheit), further compound the complexity of the mission. Enlarging the narrow cave passages to accommodate stretcher lines presents one of the most formidable challenges in cave rescue operations.
Over 170 individuals, including doctors, paramedics, and experienced cavers, are currently engaged in the rescue mission. Teams from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Turkey are collaboratively working to secure Dickey’s safe return. The operation’s timeline remains uncertain, with estimates spanning from two to three weeks.
Mark Dickey, renowned for his expertise as both a caver and a cave rescuer, was participating in an expedition to map the Morca cave system, which descends approximately 1,276 meters (4,186 feet). He fell ill around 1,000 meters down, and it wasn’t until the morning of September 3rd that those above ground were notified of the situation.