US explorer Mark Dickey, trapped in Turkey cave for 8 days, moves nearer surface
- 190 personnel from 8 countries are involved in helping experienced caver Dickey, 40, get out from one of the world’s deepest caves
- He became ill 1,120 metres down and often needs to rest and receive medical treatment as his stretcher is pulled through narrow passages
An injured US explorer trapped more than 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) deep in a Turkish cave for eight days has been transported 300 metres toward the surface, rescuers said on Sunday.
Mark Dickey, 40, reported falling ill on September 2 while exploring the Morca Cave in southern Turkey’s Taurus Mountains with an international team.
Dickey fell seriously ill at a depth of 1,120 metres and has been resting at a base camp 1,040 metres underground.
He was moved by rescuers on a stretcher, beginning just before 3:30pm (1230 GMT) on Saturday over a period of 10 hours.
He is now at a depth of 700 metres and “has a horizontal but narrow passage between him and the campsite” where he can rest before continuing the journey up, the Turkish Caving Federation said on X, formerly Twitter.
An international team of doctors and explorers as well as Turkish rescuers were launched on Tuesday and have given Dickey blood infusions and first aid.