Rescuers battled overnight to free the trapped cavers

Cave divers joined two rescue teams in a 12-hour operation to free three trapped cavers in the western Dales.

The trio were unable to exit King Pot in Kingsdale when one of them slipped and got wedged in a fissure.

The other two could not then get past the 22-year-old woman who was at the far end of the T-Piece Passage in the cave.

The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation was called out about 5.10pm yesterday and was then joined by colleagues from the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and members of the Cave Diving Group in the battle to free the three.

A CRO spokesperson said: “The casualty was eventually freed after the fissure had been enlarged, and assisted up the pitches to the surface, from where she was stretchered down to Braida Garth in Kingsdale.

“The two other trapped cavers were able to exit under their own steam. CRO returned to base exactly 12 hours after the original callout.”