An American became trapped 3,400 feet inside a cave over the weekend during a research expedition in the third deepest cave in Turkey, according to the European Cave Rescue Association. A massive rescue effort is underway.
This is breaking news that will be updated as more information becomes available. Keep reading below.
Mark Dickey, 40, fell ill and suffered gastrointestinal bleeding while exploring the Morca cave in Turkey’s Taurus Mountains.
The New Jersey Initial Response Team described Dickey as an “extremely capable and experienced caver,” Fox News reported.
The team said Dickey “was assisting in the exploration of the Morca cave (pronounced Morja) when he suddenly became ill with intestinal problems that rapidly progressed into life-threatening bleeding and vomiting.”
“He was unable to get out under his own power and only the most experienced of cavers are capable of reaching him to render aid. The Morca cave is very deep, wet and cold and experienced cavers who know the cave take eight hours to reach the location where Mark lies,” the team continued. “The phone lines in the cave have become inoperable, so that communication between the surface and Mark’s location is extremely slow.”
