Rescue Operation to Save American Caver in Turkey Is Underway
A daring rescue is currently underway to save a US citizen stranded in a cave in Turkey. The individual, reportedly an experienced American caver, became lost sometime over the weekend during a solo exploration.
Personnel from multiple Turkish agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Health, and the Yunusemre District Fire Brigade, are leading the search effort. The rescue is an international effort, with support from NATO and AAR, a global provider of aviation, maintenance, and supply chain solutions.
According to reports, the caver, who remains unidentified, was first spotted in the Varinli Cave in the Yunusemre district of Manisa Province in western Turkey. He is understood to have been more than 500 feet underground when he contacted authorities by phone.
As of Tuesday morning, rescuers were less than 130 feet from the missing caver. Rescue workers describe the ongoing mission as “challenging” due to the significant elevation and narrow passages of the cave.
The operation has proven to be a difficult one requiring the use of advanced search and rescue techniques, some of which have never before been attempted in Turkey. Among these are rope techniques, high-angle rescue, and medical triage and evacuation.
The rescue mission is an impressive display of international cooperation and humanitarianism. The people of Turkey, NATO, AAR, and all of those involved are united in their commitment to save the stranded caver. We thank the organizations and individuals working tirelessly to bring this brave individual home.