Eight people have been rescued after they got lost in a Cumbrian cave system.
The Cave Rescue Organisation were called out by the Red Rose & Pothole Club hostel, at Bull Pot Farm, near Kirkby Lonsdale, at 11pm on Friday, March 21, after they were made aware that a party of cavers were overdue.
The team were out on an Ease Gill traverse caving trip between Lancaster Hole and the Wretched Rabbit caving systems.
The Ease Gill system is the longest and most complex cave system in Britain and has around 41 miles of passages.
Rescue teams were also called by North Yorkshire Police to assist with the search for the missing party.
As the team were setting off to find the group, local cavers did a rapid search and found the group of eight safe, but cold and tired.
They were found close to Four Ways Junction in the cave – a flood escape route in the Wretched Rabbit system.
The group had apparently become disoriented in what rescue teams said was a very complex system.
Teams then escorted the group out of the system, with the help of local cavers.
Rewarming, food and reassurance was given to the group, and all were returned safe and well to Bull Pot Farm.
An organisation spokesman said: “Our thanks to Red Rose & Pothole Club hostel for hospitality at Bull Pot Farm, and to the cavers who assisted in the search and rescue.”
