More than 150 Turkish and international rescuers have mobilized to rescue an American caver who is critically ill more than 1,000 meters underground
Over 150 Turkish and international rescuers have mobilized to save an American speleologist who is seriously ill more than 1,000 meters underground in a cave in southern Turkey.
According to the Turkish Speleological Federation, Mark Dickie, 40was exploring a 1,276 meter deep cave with an international team of researchers when he suffered internal bleeding.
According to the Turkish disaster agency AFAD, the 12 remaining members of the team alerted emergency services on Sunday about Dikki’s condition and rescue operations were able to begin yesterday Tuesday, and he was given vials of blood.
Mark Dickie was 1,120 meters below the surface of the earth when he became ill and was “placed under observation at the base” of the mission a few tens of meters higher, at 1,040 meters below the ground, the Turkish speleological federation said, clarifying that it is working in coordination with the European Speleological Rescue Federation (ECRA) and AFAD.
“According to the latest information from the speleological rescue teams, Mark’s health condition is stabilizing”, the federation emphasized last night. “The bleeding has stopped and he can walk with help, but he cannot be carried out of the cave without a stretcher.”
The difficulty then lies in getting a stretcher down to the team’s mission base inside the cave to lift the stretcher and safely transport the speleologist.
“Rescue teams continue to place ropes inside the cave to raise the stretcher. Mark’s transfer is expected to begin in the next few hours.” clarifies the federation.
The caver will be temporarily transported 700 meters underground after the narrowest passages in the cave are widened to allow the stretcher to pass through.
That operation, which mobilizes more than 150 rescuers trained in speleology, could last “several days” according to the federation, which notes that it takes “under normal conditions about fifteen hours” to return to the surface from base camp .
Morca Cave is the third deepest cave in Turkey on Taseli Plateau in Mersin Province (South), the Turkish Speleological Federation says on its website
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
