US Caver Rescued in Türkiye ‘Blessed to Be Alive’, but Vows to Keep Caving 

This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) on September 12, 2023, shows US caver Mark Dickey, on a stretcher, is carried to an ambulance helicopter as his rescue operation comes to a successful end near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Türkiye. (DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) on September 12, 2023, shows US caver Mark Dickey, on a stretcher, is carried to an ambulance helicopter as his rescue operation comes to a successful end near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Türkiye. (DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
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US Caver Rescued in Türkiye ‘Blessed to Be Alive’, but Vows to Keep Caving 

This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) on September 12, 2023, shows US caver Mark Dickey, on a stretcher, is carried to an ambulance helicopter as his rescue operation comes to a successful end near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Türkiye. (DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) on September 12, 2023, shows US caver Mark Dickey, on a stretcher, is carried to an ambulance helicopter as his rescue operation comes to a successful end near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Türkiye. (DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)

An American caver rescued after being trapped underground in southern Türkiye for 11 days said on Thursday he was blessed to be alive after suffering a gastrointestinal bleed while 1,040 meters deep - but that he would go on exploring caves.

Mark Dickey, 40, was rescued early on Tuesday after being trapped in the Morca cave in Mersin province's Taurus Mountains. He was transferred to Mersin City Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

"I really am blessed to be alive. It's been a tough time," Dickey said in a news conference at the hospital.

More than 150 cave rescuers from Türkiye, Croatia, Italy and other countries worked to rescue Dickey from Türkiye’s third-deepest cave, and Dickey said he had never lost hope.

"I will definitely continue to explore caves. There is risk in all of life and, in this case, the medical emergency that occurred was completely unpredicted," Dickey said.

"Will I go back to Morca cave? I would love to."



Solar Becomes Europe's Main Energy Source in June

Solar had never before been Europe's top energy source, consultants say. Damien MEYER / AFP/File
Solar had never before been Europe's top energy source, consultants say. Damien MEYER / AFP/File
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Solar Becomes Europe's Main Energy Source in June

Solar had never before been Europe's top energy source, consultants say. Damien MEYER / AFP/File
Solar had never before been Europe's top energy source, consultants say. Damien MEYER / AFP/File

Solar power became the European Union's biggest single energy source for the first time in June, an energy think tank said Thursday.

The Ember group that researches the clean energy transition said that 22.1 percent of Europe's power in June came from solar panels, reported AFP.

That came ahead of nuclear power on 21.8 percent and wind turbines on 15.8 percent, according to the British-based institution. Gas accounted for 14.4 percent and hydropower 12.8 percent.

Ember said that at least 13 countries beat their national record for solar power production.

Wind power production also hit a new record for Europe and coal has never accounted for such a low proportion of Europe's electricity output -- Ember estimated it at 6.1 percent across the continent, down from 8.8 percent in 2024.

But with demand for electricity rising, the use of coal in the first half of 2025 was still higher than the same period in 2024, Ember said. Electricity demand in the first six months was more than two percent higher than last year.