Avast! Matey Mark Dickey, an American climber, be saved from a Turkish cave, a whole week after fallin' ill!
2023-09-12
Avast ye! American lubber Mark Dickey be saved from a Turkish cave on Tuesday mornin' when a bleedin' belly left him stuck 3,000 feet below the entrance. Arrr, matey, he be a lucky scallywag, indeed!
An experienced American climber, Mark Dickey, has been rescued after being trapped in one of the world's deepest caves for over a week. Dickey, who had been conducting an expedition to map the Morca cave in southern Turkey's Taurus Mountains, fell ill with stomach bleeding over 3,000 feet below ground. Hundreds of cavers and rescue personnel from various countries joined forces to save him. The Speleological Federation of Turkey confirmed Dickey's safe return to the surface. He was removed from the cave in the early hours of Tuesday and is currently receiving medical attention. The rescue was made more challenging due to the natural dangers of the cave and Dickey's deteriorating health. Rescue teams from Europe and the U.S. worked together to transport Dickey on a stretcher, making stops at temporary camps along the way. Dickey expressed his gratitude to the Turkish government, the international caving community, and Hungarian Cave Rescue for their efforts. Hungarian doctors initially treated him, but the cause of his illness remains unclear. Dickey described his experience as a "crazy, crazy adventure" and revealed that he had started vomiting blood while in the cave. Rescuers faced obstacles such as steep vertical sections and maneuvering through mud and water at low temperatures. Around 190 individuals from six different countries assisted in the rescue, including doctors, paramedics, and experienced cavers. The rescue operation began after doctors determined that Dickey was fit enough to be transported. The team widened narrow passages, installed ropes, and set up temporary camps before initiating the exit. Dickey, a cave researcher and rescuer himself, has participated in numerous international expeditions. Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency confirmed that Dickey's health is now "very good." The European Cave Rescue Association expressed their gratitude to the rescuers who contributed to the success of the operation and remained in the cave to clean up equipment used during the evacuation.