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Three men emerged unharmed following a subterranean mission lasting more than 30 hours throughout "terrible weather" throughout Storm Amy.

The skilled explorers became trapped in the difficult underground passage, close to Grassington.

The alarm was raised around 10 PM on Thursday when their expected return didn't happen with a family member called emergency services.

Rescue organizations reported over 100 team members took part in the "long and difficult" rescue, that encountered difficulties due to worsening weather, water ingress, rough terrain plus long hours in the caves.

When rescuers located the cavers in the predawn period that Friday, swelling water conditions indicated the most direct path was inaccessible, forcing everyone involved to retrace their steps.

Mission coordinator explained the way if they had reached the men slightly sooner, they all could have been home "in time for breakfast".

"Sadly conditions had a different plan for us," he commented.

"The main threat remained rising waters and, potentially in certain parts underground, being overwhelmed by water.

"Had the water level risen in those places, conditions would have turned extremely hazardous."

Nearby response units joined the effort, including multiple professional rescue organizations.

Cave rescue personnel rotated continuously to lead the fatigued spelunkers back, while surface crews faced "dreadful elements to maintain communication plus coordinate resources.

At a critical moment, team members built a dam with waterproof material to carry rising flood water past the cave entrance.

First trapped individual emerged safely around 3:30 PM on Friday, the second around 2:30 AM on Saturday and the third subsequently.

None of them were hurt though operational commander said they suffered from fatigue after being cold and wet for 42 hours.

"It takes resilient individuals to survive that," he remarked.

Rescue personnel finally stood down at 07:45.

Even though the storm had been forecast to take effect from Friday afternoon, rescue officials stated the caving trip undertaken by the explorers was "completely justifiable" accounting for their expertise along with the weather conditions that day.

Nevertheless, significant precipitation begun prematurely and more severely than predicted.

The explorers disclosed crucial information of their route – beginning their journey toward their endpoint – prior to departure, while rescue coordinators confirmed this "made the difference".

"Without that phone call from the wife, nobody would have known the cavers hadn't returned till someone noticed automobiles stationed at the location over an extended period," he continued.