Mark Dickey: US man trapped in Turkey cave nears surface

Mark Dickey has been caving for more than 20 years (file photo)

Significant progress has been made to rescue an American man who has been trapped in Turkey's third deepest cave complex for more than a week.

Over 150 people have been involved in efforts to save Mark Dickey after he developed stomach problems in the Morca Cave on 2 September.

He has now been lifted around 1,000m (3,280ft) and is more than halfway out.

Rescuers hope he will reach the surface sometime on Monday evening or on Tuesday local time.

"Mark reached the last 180 meters at 16:26 CET [1526 GMT]," the Turkish Caving Federation, which is involved in the rescue operation, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

"Now he will rest here for a while."

Mr Dickey was co-leading a team to map a new passage in the cave when he began to suffer from gastrointestinal bleeding on 2 September.

His condition later improved after he was given a blood transfusion. He has now been strapped to a stretcher and is being carried out.

This involves navigating through tight rock tunnels and explosives have had to be used at the narrowest points, according to CBS, the BBC's US partner.

Italian Alpine rescuers (CNSAS) carry Mark Dickey on stretcher

The medical coordinator for the mission, Tulga Sener, on Monday described Mr Dickey's general health as "very good", despite him being unable to eat.

"He is being fed intravenously all the way through and at the camps in between and the necessary liquids and medications are being given for his stomach and his general health condition," Mr Sener said.

While Mr Dickey has now made it most of the way out of the cave, the remaining distance may be difficult to navigate.

"It's a very particular phase of cave here because there are so many slopes, it's a bit tricky," said Giuseppe Conti from the European Cave Rescue Association.

"Then there is a piece, I don't know, I don't remember how many metres, but anyway this is flooded - a bit flooded, a bit."

A number of rescue workers from several other countries, including Croatia and Hungary, have flown to Turkey to assist in the rescue.

Mr Dickey's fiancée, Jessica Van Ord, is also helping. She had remained in the cave with him while he was unwell but later climbed out.

On Thursday evening, in a video message from inside the cave, Mr Dickey thanked the people attempting to rescue him.

"I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge," he said.

Mark Dickey, who hails from New Jersey, is said to be a hardened caver with over 20 years' experience.

He has been an instructor with the US National Cave Rescue Commission for 10 years, teaching a variety of cave rescue classes. He is also listed as the body's International Exchange Program Coordinator on its website.

He had been co-leading the expedition to the Morca Cave in a remote part of southern Turkey since the end of August, according to the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service, who have also been assisting with the operation.