American Speleologist Mark Dickey found himself trapped between several rocks and a hard place, launching an international rescue effort after falling seriously ill during an expedition into Turkey’s Morca Cave.


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Though 40-year-old Dickey began suffering gastrointestinal bleeding while climbing roughly 3,670ft below the surface, he was later moved to a campsite located at roughly 3,400ft.



Involving over 150 rescuers from several European nations, these ongoing rescue efforts are incredibly complex according to the Turkish Cavi\ng Federation.


“The operation is logistically and technically one of the largest cave rescues in the world,” the Turkish Caving Federation said of their elaborate mission, per NBC News. “More cave rescue teams are arriving, and they are dividing the cave up into sections. Different teams are helping to rig those sections.’


While at first, Dickey was in and out of consciousness, his condition improved under the care of doctors. Though he is now able to walk with assistance, per the news outlet, a stretcher will still be required for certain parts of the ascent, one that is primarily vertical, according to Carl Heitmeyer of the New Jersey Initial Response Team.



“The cave is mostly vertical, but it doesn’t go straight down, there are turns in the rope, and that complicates things. It makes the climbing more difficult and it just takes time," he explained, noting that the presence of water makes this more complicated. “There are tight squeezes and corkscrews where you have to turn your body in certain [sic] way."


Removal efforts are set to commence in the coming hours, Sky News reported.


As word of this complex rescue mission spread from local news and caving circles to the mainstream media, several cavers issued a stark warning for amateurs looking for their chance to be a hero — don’t even f—king think about it.

“If you are capable of helping on this rescue you will already know and have your bags packed waiting for the call,” Redditor u/echbineinnerd wrote in a thread on popular caving subreddit, r/caving.  “If you don't then shut up and let the rescue carry on, they've got enough on their plates without a media storm and every tom --- and harry harassing them for info or offering to help.”




But u/echbineinnerd was far from alone in this “hot take.”


“The caving community hates to be told to just sit tight. But it's what is needed right now. Just throwing money and resources at the problem is not what is needed,” added u/curse_word_enjoyer. “I know it is hard to just sit and wait. Believe me, I know. One of my caving and rescue family is there in serious trouble and it is all I can do to not just pack up and go, but that will not help and will likely hinder until it is requested.”


So take it from these guys — the last thing Dickey needs is a d—k with a backpack ready to launch a second rescue mission.