Cave Rescue Organisation members were on hand as flooding caused delays to cavers

Six groups of cavers emerged unhurt after heavy rain caused difficulties underground in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation received ‘multiple calls’ about overdue potholers after forecast heavy rain caused flooding in a number of underground passages.

The team was alerted at 7.45pm yesterday after a series of calls expressing concern that cavers had not surfaced when expected.

A spokesperson for the team said: “Investigation quickly established that there were potentially six separate incidents.

“Fortunately five of these parties were then reported as safe, having been delayed by high water. However one party was confirmed as still being overdue.”

Rescuers’ attention turned to Ireby Fell Cavern, 300m west of the Yorkshire Dales boundary.

Three men, aged 23, 24 and 29, had gone underground to tackle Duke Street II via the Skylight Passage crawl.

The spokesperson said: “As further information was being gathered at the roadhead, lights were seen on the moor.

“CRO investigated, met the cavers who had been trapped by flooding, and transported them off the hill.”

The team was also in action today after a 15-year-old walker slipped near Pecca Falls on the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail and dislocated his kneecap.

Following treatment by paramedics, team members stretchered the boy up to one of its vehicles which took him to a waiting ambulance on the Kingsdale road.