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A trio of cavers emerged unharmed following a subterranean mission continuing for 30 hours during "appalling conditions" amid the severe weather system.

The veteran spelunkers found themselves stuck inside the difficult cave system, near North Yorkshire.

Emergency services were alerted at 22:00 BST Thursday night when they failed to return with one of their wives notified authorities.

Emergency response teams reported in excess of 100 volunteers were involved throughout the "long and difficult" rescue, which was hampered by deteriorating conditions, water ingress, difficult landscape and extended periods underground.

At the moment the men were found in the predawn period that Friday, swelling water conditions signified the most direct path was inaccessible, requiring everyone involved to find alternative routes.

Mission coordinator detailed how if they'd located the men slightly sooner, they all could have been home "in time for breakfast".

"Regrettably the storm had a different plan in store," he said.

"The primary risk is the water and, potentially in specific areas underground, drowning.

"Had the water level risen in those areas, conditions would have turned exceptionally risky."

Adjacent response units were called for assistance, such as various specialist emergency groups.

Subterranean crews rotated continuously to escort the fatigued spelunkers back, whereas above-ground teams experienced "terrible weather to ensure coordination and coordinate resources.

During the operation, volunteers constructed a barrier employing protective covering to carry rising flood water around the access point.

The first missing caver emerged safely around 3:30 PM Friday afternoon, followed by another at 02:30 Saturday morning and the last explorer a couple hours after.

All three individuals sustained injuries however the rescue leader confirmed they were completely drained following exposed and damp for 42 hours.

"Requires determined people to survive that," he said.

Emergency responders finally stood down at 07:45.

Even though tempest was predicted to take effect from Friday afternoon, team leaders explained the caving trip undertaken by the explorers had been "perfectly reasonable" accounting for their expertise along with the weather conditions that day.

Yet, significant precipitation begun prematurely and more severely than forecast.

The men provided key details about their planned path – from Providence Pot to their destination – before setting off, while team leaders stated that information "proved crucial".

"Absent that alert from the wife, it would have taken longer to notice the cavers hadn't returned until people observed the cars parked near the entrance for a couple of days," he added.