The Cave Rescue Organisation had a busy night

Seventy volunteers spent the night on major rescue operations in the Yorkshire Dales as flood water trapped cavers underground.

Torrential rain caught out the potholers and rescuers were called out to four separate parties, as well as a group of walkers attempting the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said they were alerted by the Cave Rescue Organisation, based in Clapham, at 7.20pm on Saturday, to say they had been called to seven cavers trapped in Sunset Hole, on the western slopes of Ingleborough.

The seven, four women aged 20 and three men, 22, 23 and 29, from the Leeds area, were helped uninjured out of the system at 9.45.

The same evening, at 7.40, the CRO was advised that nine speleologists were overdue at Wretched Rabbit in the Easegill system on Casterton Fell in Cumbria. They were found by rescuers on the surface after having to delay their exit. Kendal Mountain Rescue Team was also placed on standby during the incident.

Within minutes, the CRO was told 25 cavers were missing 3km (2 miles) to the south on Ireby Fell.

The police spokesperson said: “A member of the public [was] concerned that a friend had not returned from a caving trip to Ireby Fell Cavern which is on the border of North Yorkshire and Lancashire between Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale.

“Further reports suggested that a large party of cavers had become trapped in the system due to rising waters. The CRO along with Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and the Cave Diving Group assisted with the rescue.

“Eventually, 25 people were brought to safety, including two men trapped beyond the main party. The men were assisted through a sump by the Cave Diving Group and made their way out of the cave to safety.

“One woman was treated for mild hypothermia. A total of 70 rescue volunteers assisted with this rescue.”

The rescue operation lasted throughout the night, with the last cavers being brought to the surface at 1 o’clock on Sunday afternoon.

Police officers from North Yorkshire and Lancashire were involved.

Shortly before 9pm, a further report was received that three men were trapped in Stream Passage Pot, part of the Gaping Gill system on Ingleborough’ southern flanks. They were eventually found walking down to Clapham by CRO volunteers on their way to their aid.

The three walkers feared lost on the Three Peaks walk eventually turned up safe which was fortunate, according to the CRO, because they were ‘somewhat preoccupied with the four cave rescue incidents’.

Despite their names, both the CRO and UWFRA deal with rescues both above the surface of the Dales and below.