Rescue set to begin for American trapped deep inside cave in Turkey

MERSIN PROVINCE, Turkey — Rescuers say they’re prepared to start the method of releasing an in poor health American caver caught over 3,000 toes underground throughout the subsequent few days.

“With this excellent news, with medical doctors saying you possibly can take him out now, slowly, tomorrow or the subsequent day on the newest, we are going to begin his rescue,” mentioned Recep Şalcı, head of search and rescue for Turkey’s Catastrophe and Emergency Administration Authority.

Mark Dickey is over 3,000 toes down within the Morca cave, which is the third-deepest cave within the nation, officers mentioned.

Dickey was on a global journey to map it when he suffered gastrointestinal bleeding Saturday and was unable to return on his personal. He’s recovering, he mentioned in a video dated Wednesday.

The cave is within the Taurus Mountains within the southern a part of Turkey. It has slender passages and several other areas requiring a rappel, based on the Turkish Caving Federation, which is helping within the effort.

Turkey’s Catastrophe and Emergency Administration Authority, or AFAD, plans to make use of a helicopter to fly him again and can have well being groups ready, Şalcı mentioned.

Dickey had been bleeding and vomiting, however he now not is, mentioned Dr. Tulga Şener, medical coordinator on the rescue fee of Turkey’s caving federation.

Dickey was given models of blood, and there are extra models on the camp the place he’s, “but it surely appears there isn’t any want now,” Şener mentioned. There may be additionally a physician and paramedic with Dickey within the cave, he mentioned.

As a part of the trouble to get take away Dickey, a few medical encampments are contained in the cave, Şener mentioned.

Dickey mentioned within the video dated Wednesday that he is “doing nicely.” He thanked the cavers who’re helping and the Turkish authorities.

“I look ahead to working with everybody to soundly get myself out with their help,” he mentioned. “As you possibly can see, I’m up, I’m alert, I’m speaking, however I’m not healed on the within but, so I’m going to wish a variety of assist to get out of right here.”

There have been 116 rescuers on the location Thursday, Şalcı of AFAD mentioned, and 28 have been working contained in the cave.

The Morca cave is over 4,100 toes deep.

Aziz Akyavas reported from Mersin Province and Phil Helsel from Los Angeles.