Stranded American caver arrives at base camp 2,300 feet below ground, Turkish officials say
Mark Dickey, 40, is expected to rest before the evacuation continues.
LONDON -- The American caver stranded below ground in Turkey arrived at a base camp some 2,300 feet below ground early on Sunday morning, Turkish and European caving officials said.
Mark Dickey, 40, has been trapped underground since Aug. 31, when he fell ill more than 3,400 feet below the surface.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/mark-di_hpMain_20230910-070915.jpg)
His evacuation is being monitored by health officials. He arrived at about 3:24 a.m. local time at the base camp 700 meters, or about 2,300 feet, below ground, officials said.
“At this stage, he will set out again after resting and applying the necessary treatments,” Mağaracılık Federasyonu, the country's caving federation, said in a post on social media.
![PHOTO: A rescuer is seen at the entrance of Morca Cave, as they take part in a rescue operation to reach U.S. caver Mark Dickey who fell ill and became trapped more than 3,000 feet underground, near Anamur in Mersin province, Turkey, Sept. 9, 2023.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/bb5940f0-8412-4fa2-bdba-a26efd13a2ea/ca_hpEmbed_20230910-073302_3x2.jpg)
Dickey's condition is "stable," the European Cave Rescue Association said in an update on Sunday.
"The rescuers are already moving the stretcher towards the next bivouac at -525 m," or about 1,700 feet underground, the group said.
ABC News' Edward Szekeres contributed to this story.