Major emergency service response in Peak District after explorers TRAPPED in cave

The group failed to return from a trip and the DCRO were called after other people’s attempts to find them were unsuccessful.

Crews arrived at the scene at 10.30pm on Tuesday.

After an overnight search, the cavers were found at Ringing Rake Sough in the morning.

They were escorted out from the cave shortly before 5am today, according to the Derbyshire Times.

A spokesman from DCRO said: "The team responded to a call out shortly before 9pm last night.

"A party of cavers on a through trip near Matlock Bath were overdue and attempts by other cavers to locate them had not been successful earlier that evening."

The spokesman continued: "DCRO deployed teams underground at 10.30pm and after a good search, some rewarming, and a bit of gravel digging in some tight areas, the overdue party were found and escorted through to the lower entrance shortly before 5am.

"After returning to base and cleaning kit, the last of the team members were arriving home around 7:30am, over 10 hours after heading out.

"Thanks to our colleagues at Derbyshire Police for their company and support on a cold evening.

"We wish everyone a happy new year a bit early today in case we've all fallen asleep on the sofa before midnight!"

Earlier this month, the crews were called to reports of a caver who had sustained a suspected lower-leg fracture at the bottom of the Flower Pot entrance shaft near Stoney Middleton.

A DCRO spokesman said: "DCRO The casualty was handed over to the East Midlands Ambulance Service for onward travel and treatment, and we wish them a swift recovery.

"[A group of] 14 of our volunteer team members deployed to this callout.

"A small team returned to base afterwards to clean the kit and repack the 4x4 ready for the next call."

In October, during Storm Amy, three men were brought to safety following a cave rescue lasting more than 30 hours in "appalling conditions".

The experienced cavers were stranded in the challenging Dowber Gill Passage, near Grassington, North Yorkshire.

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association said more than 100 volunteers took part in the "long and difficult" rescue, which was hampered by worsening weather, flooding, rough terrain and long hours underground.

DCRO was called for assistance, alongside Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team, Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation, Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service and Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team.

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