In September 2023, a successful international cave rescue operation was executed in the Morca Cave in Turkey from a depth of over 1,000 meters. The operation, which was widely covered by global media outlets, is detailed on our website: click here.
Hungary was represented in the operation by two Hungarian rescue services: the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service (BMSZ), joined by the Bakony Cave Rescue Service. After the successful rescue, participants from each country returned home, and the opportunity to reflect on and discuss the details and experiences of the operation was understandably not possible at the scene at that time, however the absence of this important discussion was soon recognised.
March 2024 is the month of caves. This afternoon, as part of the Month of Caves series of events in the Danube-Ipoly National Park, I (A. Hegedűs) planned to give a presentation about our rescue mission in Turkey last autumn.
Shortly before the programme, the BMSz (Hungarian Cave Rescue Service) Hotline received an alarm that a caver had taken a bad step and dislocated his ankle at "Globe Hall" in the Mátyás Cave. As there were still two hours before the lecture, I thought I could usefully help with the rescue during the first hour and a half, so after a few seconds of thought I headed for the cave.
With the cave rescuers nearby, we arrived on the scene shortly after the alarm was raised and the rescue began. The four of us were the first to descend into the cave with the medical team (2 doctors, a paramedic and an assistant), with the medical equipment needed to treat the injured.
A paraglider suffered a rough landing after the take off his flight in Buda - in front of the Hármashatár-hegy airport (mainly small and glider planes). He slammed around 50 m lower his start point – into a middle of a stony and bushy brae. His mates immediately warned the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service (BMSZ) on its dedicated number (+ 36 30 79 70 79) at 13:30 on the sunny Sunday.
The alarm centre of BMSZ alarmed the central division – the fastest members reached the injured at a bit later then 2pm and immediately started the medical attendance of him. The medical staff of the cave rescue service did his medical examination, upgrade for transport – then handed over for transport the other division of the rescue service, who was presented by 17 members by that time.
The action leader decided to take him uphill to the starting point, fixed to a special stretcher: as the injured paraglider had strong pain and there was a risk of a backbone break as well.
byAndrás Hegedűs - Márton Kovács - dr. Péter Zentay
UPDATE: September 11, 2023 11:38 p.m
THE STRETCHER WITH MARK HAS REACHED THE SURFACE After 58.5 hours of hard work with the participation of nearly 200 rescuers on the spot and with the help of almost as many background supporters from 10 countries, in frame of a huge international cooperation as one team, we managed to transport Mark up to the surface from the depth of 1040 m. Details coming soon.
In this caverescue operation participated the members of the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service and the Bakony Cave Rescue Service from Hungary.
On the afternoon of 28th of August 2023, the Bakonyi Cave Rescue Service started a cave rescue mission.
Caves are not only natural values that must be protected due to their non-renewable formations or fragile ecological balance, but they can also hide valuable archaeological sites, which can open a window to the world of the bygone past for knowledgeable specialists. A few months ago, the researchers of the Csodabogyós cave at Balatonederic discovered some unexpected interesting findings. They found unusual remains of bones and teeth in the debris near the entrance of the cave. The cave explorers invited paleontologists, geologists and archaeologists to the cave, who began the methodical and scientific exploration of the site, hoping to learn more about the small vertebrates that lived in the Miocene age.
Yesterday, during the field work in the cave, a member of the MTA-MTM Paleontological Research Group fell ill. Late in the afternoon, during the work underground, a lady researcher suddenly fell ill and - although the she was near the entrance - it seemed clear that she would not be able to leave the cave without assistance.
For years, Belgian firefighters have been organising rescue exercises and competitions for their own national staff under the name of The Grimpday. In recent years it has grown into a truly international competition - staying in the original country - but professional and civilian rescue organisations from all over the world come to compete. Under the leadership of the Hungarian Hunor professional heavy search and rescue (USAR) and industrial technical rope rescue team, which has already participated successfully in The Grimpday for several years, a team of enthusiastic volunteers has created the Hungarian equivalent of The Grimpday, focusing on mainly Hungarian firefighting and other rescue organisations, as in the original competition.
The weekend competition provided an opportunity for volunteer and professional rescue teams to showcase their rope skills, creativity, planning and organisational skills, and cooperation abilities in complex rescue simulation situations after years of practice. The competing teams had to perform tasks in urban, industrial and field conditions. All the competing teams rescued people from a 60-metre-high Ferris wheel on Elisabeth Square, lifted seriously injured people onto the embankment, moved overweight stretchers in a city centre staircase and all teams had to deal with the rubble of the Rókahegyi quarry.
Dear Friends and all who have been anxiously awaiting the news since last night: Imre is doing well now, he was pushed out of the operating room half an hour ago. His ankle was completely shattered, 11 screws and a lot of metal plates and wires were used to mosaic it together. Two orthopaedic doctors performed a demonstration surgery on him for a group of trainee doctors. He'll be off the field for a good few weeks, but then, if all goes well, he'll be back to hiking - although we'd rather avoid the rougher terrain for a while.
We can't tell you how grateful we are for the help of the Cave Rescue Service and for the empathetic, humane way they kept in touch with us during the long hours of waiting and then the way they handled the whole rescue - with culture, discretion and respect. Their doctor has kept in touch with us ever since - we really appreciate his care. And thank you to the nice couple hiking near us for their help in the first few metres, thanks to them Imre was able to get out to where the cave rescuers reached us. Thank you also to the rescuers of the National Ambulance Service, who came from several counties away, for making the trip to the hospital before heading home. And thank you to our guardian angels in action for writing the numbers of the Cave Ambulance Service on our mobile phones before we left! We encourage all fellow hikers to check their website when heading out into rougher terrain and enter their relevant number into your mobile phone. In case of trouble, they are the ones to call, as 112 or the fire brigade would alert them in the same situation.
We wish you all an accident-free hike, Orsi Bojtár and Katalin Bagi (the article about the rescue is available by CLICKING HERE)
In September 2023, a successful international cave rescue operation was executed in the Morca Cave in Turkey from a depth of over 1,000 meters. The operation, which was widely covered by global media outlets, is detailed on our website: click here.
