American speleologist Mark Dickey has been moved on a stretcher to a location at minus 300 metres in Morca Cave, southern Turkiye, reported Cave Rescue Bulgaria (CRB) to BTA on Monday.
Turkish and international teams, including a total of 19 Bulgarian rescuers, are participating in the rescue operation of the American speleologist. Dickey, 40, has been stranded at a depth of 1,040 metres in the Morca Cave in Taurus Mountain since September 2, after suffering a stomach hemorrhage during an international caving expedition. Morca is the third deepest cave in Turkiye.
In response to a question about the progress of the rescue operation to retrieve the American citizen and his condition, CRB told BTA that Mark Dickey is currently stable.
CRB added that during the initial part of the operation the Bulgarian team was positioned at the bottom, at minus 1,040 metres, and accordingly moved the stretcher to minus 900 metres. Two members of the Bulgarian team, a doctor and a paramedic, are currently accompanying the stretcher to provide the necessary help in case of need.
There is one CRB team on the surface preparing the last 100 meters of extraction, and one team that is preparing to exit, CRB added.
Meanwhile, the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA) also reported Monday on their website that Dickey has been transported to minus 300 metres and that their extraction to a camp at minus 180 metres has began.
Dickey's medical condition remains unchanged, ECRA pointed out.
The rescuers involved in pulling the stretcher from the deeper parts of the cave are working on dismantling the rope installations and are about to surface for a well-deserved rest. All cave rescuers are in good physical condition, ECRA added.
Cave Rescue Bulgaria explained on their Facebook page that the operation to retrieve Mark Dickey started at 3:30 pm on September 9.
Nearly 200 rescuers from eight countries participated in the rescue operation of the American speleologist. About 130 of them are cave rescuers.
/RY/
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