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Three explorers were brought to safety after a cave rescue continuing for 30 hours throughout "terrible weather" amid Storm Amy.

The veteran spelunkers were stranded inside the challenging Dowber Gill Passage, close to the Yorkshire Dales.

Emergency services were alerted in the evening that evening after they didn't come back and a relative called authorities.

Volunteer groups confirmed more than 100 volunteers participated during the challenging rescue, that encountered difficulties because of storm impacts, rising waters, difficult landscape and long hours underground.

By the time the explorers were discovered in the early hours on Friday, swelling water conditions meant the easiest exit route was impassable, compelling everyone involved to find alternative routes.

Mission coordinator described how if they had reached the explorers slightly sooner, they all could have been back for morning meal.

"Sadly the storm had a different plan ahead," he said.

"The primary risk remained rising waters and, potentially in specific areas of the cave, submersion.

"If waters had increased in those places, the situation would have become exceedingly dangerous."

Adjacent response units provided support, comprising several trained emergency groups.

Cave rescue personnel worked in relays to lead the fatigued spelunkers to the surface, while external personnel experienced "terrible elements to ensure coordination plus handle supplies.

At a critical moment, team members erected a diversion with plastic sheeting to divert rising flood water around the cave entrance.

Initial explorer located emerged safely in the afternoon Friday afternoon, the second around 2:30 AM on Saturday and the third two hours later.

None of them were injured however team coordinator confirmed they were completely drained due to being exposed and damp throughout the ordeal.

"Requires resilient individuals to endure that experience," he said.

The team finally stood down in the morning.

Even though tempest was anticipated to arrive starting Friday, rescue officials said the caving trip undertaken by the cavers was "perfectly reasonable" considering their experience plus the weather conditions on Thursday.

However, significant precipitation came sooner plus more intensely than forecast.

The explorers disclosed important specifics regarding their itinerary – starting at one location toward their endpoint – ahead of their expedition, with officials confirmed this "proved crucial".

"Absent that alert from the wife, it would have taken longer to notice these guys were overdue till someone noticed automobiles stationed at the location over an extended period," he added.