Cavers stranded underground found by search team

Three highly experienced cavers were stranded underground at Takaka Hill until early today after a rope they had relied on was left coiled out of reach.

The three -- two Nelson men and a woman from Christchurch, all in their early 40s -- were found about 2.40am by members of the Motueka Cave Search and Rescue team.

They had been forced to wait for rescue during an expedition through the Green Link-Middle Earth cave systems.

Travelling through the linked caves takes about 18 hours, and the one-way trip includes two sump dives.

At one point, the route depends on a rope, which had been laid in advance several weeks ago but was inadvertently left coiled out of reach of the cavers.

With no way to proceed or return, the trio was forced to wait for rescue. Motueka police were alerted at 9.30pm yesterday.

The cavers were found fit and well, Senior Constable Gerry Tonkin of Motueka police said this morning.

- nzpa