Huge operation to save ill cave explorer 

Rescuers from across Europe are racing to save an American man trapped in Turkey’s third deepest cave complex

TURKEY
Morca Cave
Antalya
Adana
Anamur
Mediterranean Sea
60km 37 miles

Mark Dickey, 40: Experienced caver becomes ill on Sep 2 after suffering gastrointestinal bleeding while on expedition to map

Morca Cave

Mark’s condition improved after receiving 4 litres of blood, but he needs stretcher to exit

RESCUE OPERATION
Involves more than 170 doctors, paramedics and experienced cavers from several countries – including Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Turkey

Cave divided into seven sections, with different teams responsible for each section

Narrow passages being widened – sometimes with help of small explosions – to allow stretcher lines to pass through

Rescuers working under wet conditions and temperatures as low as 4°C


Entrance / exit
MORCA CAVE
Extremely narrow cave with many twists and turns, difficult to navigate

Sep 2: Mark falls ill at depth of 1,120m


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200 
400 
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1,200
1,276

Depth (metres)
 

Sources: European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA), Turkish Caving Federation (TUMAF)
Picture: Facebook © GRAPHIC NEWS