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Three men were brought to safety following a underground operation continuing for 30 hours in "terrible weather" throughout Storm Amy.

The veteran spelunkers were stranded within the demanding Dowber Gill Passage, in the vicinity of North Yorkshire.

The alarm was raised in the evening on Thursday after their expected return didn't happen with one of their wives called the police.

Rescue organizations confirmed over 100 volunteers participated throughout the "long and difficult" mission, that faced obstacles due to worsening weather, flooding, difficult landscape along with extended periods underground.

When rescuers located the cavers in the predawn period of Friday, rising water levels indicated the most direct path became blocked, forcing both teams to retrace their steps.

Mission coordinator described that if they had reached the cavers slightly sooner, they all could have been safely by morning.

"Regrettably the weather had a different plan for us," he said.

"The primary risk is the water and in some cases in certain parts of the cave, submersion.

"Had the water level risen at those points, the situation would have become extremely hazardous."

Neighbouring rescue organizations were called for assistance, such as multiple specialist emergency groups.

Cave rescue personnel worked in relays to guide the exhausted cavers back, meanwhile surface crews endured "dreadful weather to ensure coordination while also coordinate resources.

At one point, rescue personnel built a dam employing plastic sheeting to carry increasing waters around the access point.

Initial explorer located was rescued at 15:30 BST on Friday, then the next at 02:30 that Saturday and the last explorer subsequently.

Each explorer sustained injuries but team coordinator stated they were completely drained after being cold and wet for 42 hours.

"Requires determined people to survive that experience," he noted.

Rescue personnel finally stood down in the morning.

While the storm had been forecast to arrive from Friday afternoon, team leaders explained the exploration undertaken by the cavers had been "entirely appropriate" considering their experience along with atmospheric circumstances that day.

Yet, significant precipitation arrived earlier and more severely than predicted.

The explorers had shared key details about their planned path – from Providence Pot to Dow Cave – ahead of their expedition, with team leaders stated that information "saved the day".

"Without that phone call by the family member, it would have taken longer to notice the explorers were missing until someone noticed the cars parked outside the cave for a couple of days," he added.