An American researcher has been successfully rescued from a cave in southern Turkey after being trapped for over a week. Mark Dickey, a 40-year-old experienced caver, fell seriously ill while exploring the Morca cave, located in the Taurus Mountains. Dickey, who had been part of an expedition to map the cave, was too weak to climb out himself, prompting an international rescue effort. Rescuers from Turkey and several European countries cheered and applauded as Dickey emerged from the cave strapped to a stretcher. He was then flown to a nearby hospital in Mersin by helicopter.

American caver Mark Dickey was rescued from a cave in Turkey after being stranded thousands of feet underground. pic.twitter.com/77Of48NUju

— Lucky (@minhphu2568) September 12, 2023

Dickey's condition had been uncertain during his ordeal, as he had experienced stomach bleeding and it remained unclear what had caused his illness. The challenging rescue operation involved widening narrow passages within the cave, installing ropes to pull Dickey up vertical shafts, and setting up temporary camps along the way. Over the course of the operation, around 190 experts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Turkey worked tirelessly to ensure Dickey's safe rescue. The teams, consisting of doctors, paramedics, and experienced cavers, took turns staying by his side at all times. Among the rescuers was Dr. Zsofia Zador, a caving enthusiast and medical rescuer from Hungary.

Zador had been on her way to start her morning shift at the hospital when she received news of Dickey's condition. She quickly arranged for a colleague to cover her shift and immediately traveled to Turkey to join the rescue mission. Zador was among the first to treat Dickey inside the cave and described his reaction upon seeing her as one of relief and hope. Dickey's health had deteriorated during his time in the cave, with him starting to vomit large amounts of blood. However, he managed to remain conscious throughout the ordeal.

Once rescued, Dickey expressed gratitude to the international caving community, Turkish cavers, and the Hungarian Cave Rescue team. He also described his nine-day experience as a "crazy, crazy adventure" and expressed amazement at being above ground again. The Italian National Alpine and Speleological Corps stated that the rescue operation involved over 100 rescuers from around 10 countries and lasted a total of 60 hours.

Dickey spent approximately 500 hours trapped in the cave. Although further details about Dickey's condition have not been provided, a statement from the Mersin governor's office described his general health as "good." Despite the harrowing experience, there are hopes that Dickey will continue his passion for caving in the future. Carl Heitmeyer, a member of the New Jersey Initial Response Team and a friend of Dickey's, expressed belief in his return to the sport. Dr. Zador also described their friendship and the relief Dickey felt when she arrived in the cave as indications that he may continue his caving expeditions.