American scientist trapped in Turkey cave could be rescued Monday

American scientist Mark Dickey trapped 1,000 meters in cave in Turkey could be rescued as soon as Monday as he is moved halfway to the surface

• Mark Dickey, 40, became stuck in the Morca cave in southern Turkey on Sept 2
• Ten days in to the rescue mission, responders say he is halfway to the surface
• They began lifting him to safety on Saturday and believe he could be free tonight

An American scientist trapped 1,000 meters down a cave in Turkey could be rescued as soon as Monday evening, rescuers say. 

Mark Dickey, 40, was on an international exploration expedition in the Morca cave in Mersin province’s Taurus mountains when he began suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding at a depth of 1,040 meters. 

Since the rescue mission began 10 days ago, responders have managed to extricate the New York speleologist – meaning cave expert – halfway up the ginormous chasm. 

More than 150 rescuers from around the world have been working on the rescue mission in Turkey’s third deepest cave. 

Dickey, who normally leads cave rescue missions himself, could be freed at soon as tonight, according to the Speleological Federation of Turkey. 

An American scientist trapped 1,000 meters down a cave in Turkey could be rescued as soon as Monday, rescuers say

Mark Dickey, 40, (pictured in the cave) was on an international exploration expedition in the Morca cave in Mersin province’s Taurus mountains when he began suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding at a depth of 1,040 meters

More than 150 rescuers from around the world have been working on the rescue mission in Turkey’s third deepest cave

‘The rescue team is currently trying to get Mark to -180 meters,’ the federation said on X. 

‘The 180 meters camp will continue after Mark rests for a while. If everything goes well, it is aimed to be taken out today evening or tomorrow.’

Giuseppe Conti, European Cave Rescue Association technical commission chairperson said the first few days of the rescue mission were about reaching Dickey and keeping his medical condition stable. 

He told reporters that the mission moved on to the phase of gradually lifting him out of the crevice on Saturday.  

‘Our medical team is working really hard to try to keep Mark’s condition as stable as possible,’ Conti said. 

‘Since yesterday, we started lifting the stretcher and transporting him through the cave.’

‘We have to do it very carefully because we cannot risk any conditions worsening (for) Mark. So we must pay attention meter after meter. 

‘Currently, the stretcher is about 500 meters from the surface.’

Dickey, who normally leads cave rescue missions himself, could be freed at soon as Monday evening, according to the Speleological Federation of Turkey

Rescuers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Turkey are involved in the mission

Dickey’s fiancée, Jessica Van Ord, who was with him during the expedition, has been staying at the camp site and working with the rescue teams.

Van Ord has taken leading roles in previous cave rescues herself – including the case of an elderly cockapoo which she saved by managing to slip herself into an incredibly tight crevice to reach the pooch. 

The 12-year-old canine got stuck in a cave at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in upstate New York two years ago.  

Tulga Sener, medical coordinator for the cave rescue commission, said her fiancee’s medical condition is ‘very good’ despite his illness. 

‘A medical doctor will accompany him the whole way,’ Sener said. 

‘Right now, Italian doctors are accompanying him along the route. Mark’s medical condition right now is very good.’

Speaking on Sunday, Cenk Yildiz, Mersin provincial head of Turkey’s AFAD disaster management authority, said Dickey would be brought out in two to three days ‘if they don’t experience any problems.’ 

Rescuers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Turkey are involved in the mission. 

The international group has divided Dickey’s journey to freedom into sections, with each country’s team taking responsibility for a section. 

Bulgarian rescuers pulled him up the first 500 feet, followed by a Croatian team for the next 500 feet and so on, until he reaches Turkish rescuers on the final leg. 

Dickey, who lives in Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York, is a well-known figure in the international caving community. 

He is described by the European Cave Rescue Association as ‘a highly-trained caver and a cave rescuer himself’.   

‘He has participated in caving expeditions in many karst areas of the world for many years,’ the association said.

‘In addition to his activities as a speleologist, he is also the secretary of the ECRA medical committee and an instructor for cave rescue organizations in the USA.’

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