Morca Cave Rescue: Relief as Experienced Caver Gets Above Ground Following Days of Sickness 590 Feet Under Southern Turkey's Mountain Range

While on a trip deep below Morca Cave in Southern Turkey, an experienced cave diver suddenly became unwell, leaving him too weak to ascend above ground on his own.

Some days later, he was found by several rescue teams and was administered the necessary medical treatment.

Sick and Frail Inside Morca Cave, Turkey

More than a week after he grew dangerously ill and became too weak to make his own way out, a dramatic and difficult international rescue mission to extricate an American man from Turkey's third deepest and sixth longest cave finished successfully on Tuesday.

Mark Dickey, a 40-year-old competent and experienced cave diver, was reportedly experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding while participating in a research team's exploration mission in the Morca Cave.

The cave, which can be found in southern Turkey's Taurus Mountain range, has a maximum depth of 4,186 feet.

A massive rescue operation was started, including numerous teams of skilled cavers from all over the world as well as Turkish experts.

Mark Dickey is out of the cave, in the care of a rescuer, and appears to be in good condition at first glance, according to Recep Salci of Turkey's disaster and emergency management authority (AFAD).

Dickey was smiling as he was carried on a stretcher out of the cave.

Dickey expressed his delight at being above ground again while speaking to reporters at a medical tent set up next to the cave. He also expressed gratitude to the Turkish authorities and rescue workers for literally saving his life.

The cave diver claimed that an unforeseen medical issue caused him to be underground for a lot longer than he had ever anticipated.

He clarified that although he doesn't fully understand what has transpired, he is aware that, from his perspective, his life was saved by the Turkish government's rapid action in obtaining the necessary medical equipment.

From 590 Feet Below Surface

Dickey was trapped in a cave with steep vertical shafts, deep pits, and narrow passageways.

Photographer Agnes Berentes, who explored it, described the cold, wet conditions at 39°F.

Dickey also suffered severe stomach bleeding, requiring a blood transfusion during the mission deep inside the cave.

The European Cave Rescue Association received the call on September 2, leading to a multinational rescue operation involving 200 aid workers from the US, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.

The rescue has seven divisions at various depths, ultimately bringing Dickey up from 590 feet below the surface.

The Turkish Caving Federation confirmed his successful rescue at 12:37 AM local time.

A doctor accompanied him, providing vital updates through a communication line.

According to the Caving Academy, a non-profit organization he formed for cavers, Dickey had visited caverns in ten different nations and twenty different US states over his ten years as an experienced instructor under the National Cave Rescue Commission.

He began caving in the 1990s and has worked as the executive director of the Caving Academy as well as the medical commission secretary for the European Cave Rescue Association.