Operation Deep Purple, Part 3

Building the rescue path and the successful elevation of the patient

Abstract

Operation Deep Purple was the official code name for the world’s largest cave rescue that took place in September 2023, in the 1246 m deep Morca cave in southern Turkey [6]. Morca means „purple” in Turkish and the great depth of the cave inspired the code name for the operation: „Deep Purple”. The international response was significant; almost all foreign media covered the success of the operation. Cave rescue is not strictly a topic of military methodology, however the techniques, organization and logistics presented here have many similarities to a military or disaster management operation. Members of the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service (BMSZ) played a key role in the rescue, and Hungarian government organizations and the Hungarian Military also provided a significant help. The article describes some of the technical, logistical and organizational aspects of the rescue. The author of the paper participated in the operations as a member of the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service.