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Three men were successfully rescued following a cave rescue continuing for 30 hours in "terrible weather" amid the tempest.

The skilled explorers found themselves stuck in the difficult cave system, near North Yorkshire.

The alarm was raised in the evening that evening as their expected return didn't happen while one of their wives called the police.

Emergency response teams stated over 100 responders participated throughout the "long and difficult" operation, that encountered difficulties because of storm impacts, flooding, difficult landscape and prolonged time underground.

When rescuers located the cavers in the predawn period that Friday, increasing floodwaters indicated the easiest exit route became blocked, requiring everyone involved to backtrack.

Rescue team leader explained that if they'd located the explorers just an hour or two earlier, everyone might have made it home "in time for breakfast".

"Sadly the storm took an unexpected turn ahead," he stated.

"The immediate danger was the water and possibly in certain parts within the passage, submersion.

"Should flooding have worsened at those points, conditions would have turned exceptionally risky."

Adjacent response units were called for assistance, comprising various trained response teams.

The underground teams operated in shifts to guide the fatigued spelunkers back, whereas above-ground teams faced "appalling" weather to ensure coordination and handle supplies.

During the operation, volunteers erected a dam with waterproof material to channel rising flood water around the access point.

First trapped individual was brought to safety at 15:30 BST that Friday, followed by another in the early morning Saturday morning and the last explorer subsequently.

All three individuals were hurt but the rescue leader stated they were exhausted due to being chilled and soaked over two days.

"It takes resilient individuals to withstand such conditions," he said.

Emergency responders finally stood down in the morning.

While the storm was anticipated to arrive from Friday afternoon, team leaders explained the caving trip organized by the cavers proved "completely justifiable" considering their skill level plus the weather conditions initially.

Yet, heavy rain came sooner while also with greater force than expected.

The explorers disclosed crucial information of their route – beginning their journey to Dow Cave – prior to departure, with officials said that information "proved crucial".

"Without that phone call from the relative, nobody would have known the explorers were missing till somebody saw automobiles stationed near the entrance for several days," he concluded.