Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, international cave rescue experts work to save a Caver. While 3,200 feet in a cave, Mark Dickey became sick.
Prior to his illness, Mark was on an expedition mapping the 4,186-foot-deep Morca cave system for a speleology association Group.
Over 2000 rescuers are involved in a difficult task to save Mark Dickey. Dickey was also part of a research team in Morca Valley.
Mark Dickey’s Condition
Dickey is a highly trained caver and a cave rescuer who is known for participating in many expeditions. He is also secretary of the association’s medical committee.
Although he is well trained Mark has gastrointestinal bleeding and is too injured to leave the cave on his own. Meanwhile, Mark has been delivered six units of blood and his condition is getting better.
Mark is currently in a campsite 900 meters from the entrance, waiting for his condition to stabilize. Mark is still currently not able to. However, once he regains strength he might be able to escape on his own according to the federation.
The Hungarian Cave Rescue Service of volunteer rescuers, was the first to arrive at Dickey’s location. They provided blood transfusions to stabilize his condition.
Mark’s condition continues to improve, the federation tweeted, “Doctors will decide whether he can leave without a stretcher.”
Yusuf Ogrenecek, of the Speleological Federation in Turkey, tells the Press that Dickey’s condition had stabilized and that he was in good hopes.
“Mark’s condition continues to improve, according to this evening’s news. Bleeding stops and he is able to walk. Rigging continues. Plans are going to start removing the stretcher soon,” said in a tweet by the Turkey Federation.
Rescue operations
As of now, rescue attempts aren’t working since the cave is so narrow. Bulent Genc, head of the federation, said that the rescue could take days to weeks because the cave is deep and narrow.
The rescue expedition is made up of more than 150 people, including doctors and paramedics who tend to Dickey, and other experienced cavers. Cavers from Italy’s National Rescue Team will fly to Turkey on Thursday night. Around 40 rescuers were expected at the entrance of the cave early Friday ready to participate in the operation
The cave is being prepared for Dickey’s safe extraction. In order to safely lift Mark, small caves are being widened and the danger of rocks falling is also dealt with.
Lifting Dickey would likely take many days and several points are being prepared along the way so that he and the rescue teams can rest.
words from Mark Dickey
“I want to thank all that’s down here and thank the response of the caving community. The caving world really is a tight-knit group and it’s amazing. Many people have responded on the surface,” Dickey said in an video interview.
“We are still waiting for communications to reach down here, so right now it takes a day to two days of travel for information to get back and forth,” Dickey added. “So I don’t know what’s happened, but I do know the response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I needed, in my opinion, saved my life.”
He reassured the public he was doing better since being treated.
“I look forward to working with everyone to safely get myself out with their assistance,” he said. “As you can see I’m up. I’m alert, I’m talking, but I’m not healed on the inside yet so, I’m going to need a lot of help to get out of here.”
At the end of the video, Dickey becomes sad and thanks all for their efforts.
By Jamarion Thomas
Sources:
CNN: Rescuers rush to save American man trapped in deep cave in Turkey
NBC: ‘I’m up, I’m alert’: Trapped American shares video from inside Turkish cave
NBC: Rescuers race to save ill American stranded deep inside a cave in Turkey
Top And Featured Image Courtesy of Dan’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Insert Image Courtesy of Klim Levene’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
