American Explorer Rescued from Turkish Cave After Harrowing Ordeal

An American who assisted in the rescue of caver Mark Dickey, who was trapped more than 3,000 feet underground in a Turkish cave, has spoken about the challenging conditions faced during the rescue. Carl Heitmeyer described the situation as "dire" due to the lack of flat surfaces and the need to climb, scramble, and crawl through the cave. Dickey, an experienced caver who fell ill, was eventually carried out on a stretcher after being treated by an emergency team. Heitmeyer praised Dickey's bravery and predicted that he would continue caving in the future.