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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A major rescue operation is underway in Turkey’s Taurus Mountains to bring out an American researcher who fell seriously ill nine days ago at a depth of some 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) from the entrance of one of the world’s deepest caves. An experienced cave rescuer himself, Mark Dickey is being assisted by teams of international rescuers who by Monday had brought him to 300 meters (nearly 1,000 feet) from the surface.
Here’s what to know about the caver and the rescue operation:
Dickey, a 40-year-old accomplished cave explorer from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, was 1040 meters (3,412 feet) from the entrance of the Morca Cave on an expedition, when he became stricken with severe stomach bleeding on Sept. 2. There were several other people with him, including three other Americans, on the mission to map the 1,276-meter (4,186-foot) deep cave system for the Anatolian Speleology Group Association.
In perilous condition, doctors, paramedics, and experienced cavers from Turkey and across Europe rushed to his rescue. One Hungarian doctor went down to treat him at his location as early as Sept. 3. Doctors have administered IV fluids and 4 liters (1 gallon) of blood while still inside the cave in a bid to stabilize his condition and pave the way for his rescue. Teams comprised of a doctor and three to four other rescuers took turns staying by his side at all times.
The European Association of Cave Rescuers has described Dickey as “a highly trained caver and a cave rescuer himself” and well-known cave researcher, or speleologist. He is the secretary of the association’s medical committee.
“Mark is the guy that should be on that rescue mission that’s leading and consulting and for him to be the one that needs to be rescued is kind of a tragedy in and of itself,” said Justin Hanley, a 28-year-old firefighter from near Dallas, Texas, who met Dickey during a cave rescue course the researcher taught in Hungary and Croatia.
The Morca Cave in southern Turkey’s Taurus Mountains is the country’s third deepest, a very complex system with many steep vertical shafts and a few horizontal sections.
The biggest challenges the rescuers face are the steep vertical sections and navigating through mud and water at low temperatures in the horizontal sections. There is also the psychological toll of staying inside a dark, damp cave for extended periods of time, experts have said.
Temporary medical camps have been set up along the tunnel to provide assistance and resting spots as Dickey is gradually extracted from the cave. The tunnel also needed to be re-equipped with new ropes and a communication line had to be drawn. Some narrow cave passages needed to be widened as Dickey was being moved up on a stretcher.
Gretchen Baker, the national coordinator for the U.S.-based National Cave Rescue Commission, who has known Dickey for more than 10 years, said his experience as a rescuer will help him now as a patient being rescued.
“Because of his experience teaching and doing these rescues, he understands exactly what is ahead of him,” Baker said, adding that while it isn’t easy to be tied to the stretcher, Dickey personally knows some of the rescuers from Europe who have come to help him.
"He also knows that the people that are rescuing him are top notch,” she said. "They are such good cave rescuers.”
Carl Heitmeyer of the New Jersey Initial Response Team said on Monday that Dicked had passed the 300 meter mark and was heading to 180 meters for a brief stop.
“At -180m he will receive medical assessment, and regular treatments. Then he will continue to the surface,” Heitmeyer said, adding that he might be out of the cave later on Monday or on Tuesday.
After his initial treatment deep underground, doctors gave the go-ahead for the operation to begin to bring Dickey to surface on Saturday, after they assessed he was well enough to be moved. The American was first lifted from his location to a camp at 700 meters from the surface, and then to the 500 meters level.
The operation involves stops so that Dickey can recuperate at several medical camps that have been set up along the way.
The Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue said Monday that Dickey recognized some sections of the cave and has reacted positively, understanding that he is getting closer to the exit.
Some 190 personnel from Turkey and eight countries are assisting in the rescue effort: Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Poland, Albania, and the United States.
More than 150 of them are experts in the field of search and rescue.
Last week, Dickey thanked the caving community and the Turkish government for their efforts in a video message from inside the cave.
“The caving world is a really tight-knit group and it’s amazing to see how many people have responded on the surface,” said Dickey. “I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge.”