🔗 Share this article Explorers Rescued After Extended Mission During British Tempest Swelling water levels were a major concern Three explorers were brought to safety following a cave rescue lasting more than 30 hours during "terrible weather" amid the tempest. The experienced cavers were stranded within the challenging Dowber Gill Passage, in the vicinity of the Yorkshire Dales. Concerns were reported around 10 PM Thursday night when they didn't come back and one of their wives contacted the police. Over 100 team members from multiple emergency groups took part Emergency response teams reported over 100 responders were involved in the challenging operation, that faced obstacles by deteriorating conditions, flooding, difficult landscape plus prolonged time underground. When rescuers located the cavers in the predawn period that Friday, increasing floodwaters meant the most direct path was inaccessible, forcing the rescuers and the cavers to find alternative routes. Rescue team leader explained how if they had reached the cavers slightly sooner, everyone might have made it back for morning meal. "Sadly conditions took an unexpected turn in store," he said. "The immediate danger is rising waters and, potentially in specific areas within the passage, drowning. "If waters had increased in those areas, conditions would have turned exceedingly dangerous." Rescue leader comments underground operations don't happen often locally Neighbouring rescue organizations were called for assistance, including various specialist rescue organizations. Subterranean crews rotated continuously to guide the fatigued spelunkers back, whereas surface crews experienced "dreadful elements to maintain communication and manage logistics. During the operation, rescue personnel erected a diversion using plastic sheeting to divert rising flood water away from the cave entrance. Team members created a diversion and used waterproof covering to divert stormwater away from the cave entrance The first missing caver emerged safely at 15:30 BST on Friday, then the next at 02:30 on Saturday and the third a couple hours after. All three individuals were injured though operational commander confirmed they were completely drained following cold and wet throughout the ordeal. "It takes resilient individuals to endure that experience," he remarked. Rescue personnel finally stood down in the morning. While severe weather was predicted to arrive from Friday afternoon, coordinators stated the expedition undertaken by the men proved "completely justifiable" accounting for their expertise plus meteorological situation that day. However, heavy rain came sooner while also more intensely than forecast. The cavers had shared crucial information about their planned path – beginning their journey to Dow Cave – ahead of their expedition, while team leaders stated these details "saved the day". "Absent that alert by the family member, it would have taken longer to notice the cavers hadn't returned until somebody saw the cars parked near the entrance for several days," he added.