FALMOUTH Coastguard took a call just after 11pm on Sunday, alerting them to two missing climbers who had swum out to Long Island just off Bossiney earlier in the day and had not returned.
The island is about 100 foot swim from the beach, although neither had wetsuits.
The mother of a climber had alerted the emergency services after the two men, who had intended to go climbing on the rock had not returned for a pre-arranged meal. The two were due to meet family members between 6pm and 8pm, so were missing for more than three hours.
A friend of theirs reported to the Coastguard that the two missing men were experienced, but that the two climbs involved are difficult and require a swim out in some currents that are demanding. He also suggested that they had been sitting tight if the tide was too much for them.
The Bude Coastguard Rescue Team was turned out, and a rescue helicopter from the Royal Air Force base at Wattisham was scrambled. A search was conducted from Trevalga to Bossiney.
Shortly after 1am on Monday morning, the helicopter spotted one climber on the south east side of the rock, about 20 foot up and waving towards the aircraft. Shortly after the second climber was seen and both were being winched aboard by 1.23am.
Phil Mathias, Watch Manager at Falmouth Coastguard said: "Fortunately neither climber required medical attention and both were flown ashore where they were met by the Coastguard. The men had decided to stay on the rock due to the large swell which would make swimming ashore dangerous.
"However, it was fortuitous a shoreside contact knew where they were going and approximately what time they would return. If they had not I fear they would have spent all night on the rock before being discovered."