Mark Dickey, an American caver who had become trapped more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) underground in southern Turkey after falling ill, was rescued early on Tuesday, Turkey’s TUMAF caving federation said, after a days-long international rescue operation.
The 40-year-old had been trapped inside the Morca Cave in southern Turkey’s Taurus Mountains since 31 August, when he fell ill more than 3,400 feet below the surface, according to the New Jersey Initial Response Team, a group he leads.
“It is amazing to be above ground again,” Dickey told reporters after the rescue, according to Reuters. “I was underground far longer than ever expected.”
Dickey was extracted from the cave around 12:37 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the Turkish Caving Federation announced, describing the operation as “successful.”
“We congratulate all those who contributed,” the caving organization said.
As of late Tuesday morning, Dickey remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit in the southern port city of Mersin for further examination and observation. He is in good condition, according to Turkish authorities.
Dickey will hold a press conference on Wednesday morning from the hospital if his health allows it, Turkish authorities said. It remains unclear when he will be transferred to the United States.
Dickey told reporters he initially thought he was going to survive, but as he got sicker, he began to have doubts.
“Then my consciousness started to get harder to hold on to, and I reached a point where I said, ‘I’m not going to live,'” he said.
READ ALSO: Multiple Car Crash Claims 12 Lives, Leaves 31 Injured In Turkey
The New Jersey Initial Response Team thanked the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, the European Cave Rescue Association for their efforts in rescuing Dickey, as well as the cave rescuers for “their hardcore caving ability,” the organization told ABC News in a statement.