Yea, they closed and sealed the cave because it was just too difficult to retrieve the body. They actually fed him through an IV to keep him conscious. Videos (and images) that make your palms sweat. Agree horrible way to go. Here is everything to know about the caves and the dreadful incident. Both Boy Scouts ended up trapped within a week of each other, and it took rescuers over 14 hours to free the 16-year-old Boy Scout. It's sad what happened, but an entire natural landmark shouldn't be barricaded forever because of an accident that happened over a decade ago. There is also a strong Nutty Putty Cave Reddit community that talks about other cavers experiences and thoughts. The story was both tragic and frightening in the same moment. Rescuers concluded that it would be too dangerous to attempt to retrieve his body; the landowner and Jones' family came to an agreement that the cave would be permanently closed with the body sealed inside, as a memorial to Jones. Look at the picture on the bottom right and imagine it for a moment. When she attended BYU, she had been studying psychology and worked hard to build up her resume and earn good grades to someday go to graduate school and become a marriage and family therapist. While it is great to engage in things you share with your family and do the things you used to do all the time, it is important to keep taking the precautions that come with the hobby, because a very grave mistake on the part of John Jones in the Nutty Putty cave took his life and ended in great tragedy for him and his family. He tried to exhale the air in his chest so that he could fit through a space that was barely 10 inches across and 18 inches high, about the size of the opening of a clothes dryer. I was talking with my daughter about thissaid and thought the Exact same thing you said! Life is still wonderful and beautiful and good, even though bad things happen, because Heavenly Father has a plan for us., Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Jones died after being trapped for over 24 hours. Not even after his death did the authorities manage to remove his body. A medical student with a wife and 2-year-old daughter, Jones was exploring the cave when he suddenly found himself stuck in an almost unreachable crevice 150 feet underground, hanging upside down. I thought: OK. We did our best.. You had to work hard to get in trouble.". Its also a great place to understand some of the lesser-known facts about the death of John Jones and the Nutty Putty Cave. One was, I dont know, maybe 6 or 7 hours long. To further complicate the situation, Jones ribcage would catch on a lip of rock when the rescuers attempted to pull him back up and over the crux. (Photo: Dave Cawley, KSL Newsradio). John, 26 at the time, and Josh, 23, along with nine other friends and family members, decided to explore Nutty Putty Cave as a way to connect with each other ahead of the holiday. William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. While exploring with his brother, Jones mistook a narrow tunnel for the similarly tight "Birth Canal" passageway and became stuck upside-down in an area measuring 10 by 18 inches (25 by 46 cm), around 400 feet (120 m) from the cave's entrance. Jones was held in place like a hook, unable to move without causing serious harm due to the bends his body was placed in. John had suffered a fatal cardiac arrest shortly before midnight on November 25, 2009. John Edward Jones visited Nutty Putty Cave with his brother Josh and 11 others on Nov. 24, 2009, only months after the cave was reopened. I planned on helping John get through medical school, raising our family together and being a mom.. John Edward Jones was born on the 21st of January of 1983. John Edward Jones died November 25 in a caving accident in Nutty Putty Cave, Utah County. John was at the Nutty Putty cave with his brother and nine other friends and family members. U.S. officials will work to restore more large bison herds to Native American lands under a Friday order from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. He named them for their clay. Motola introduced herself to John, even though all she could see of him was a pair of navy and black running shoes, to which John responded, faint and distant, Hi Susie, thanks for coming, John said, but I really, really want to get out.. This man went through hell and died anyway. At the time, he had thought that he discovered the Birth Canal. Carlos Hathcock Was A Sniper So Badass His Exploits Can Hardly Be Believed, The Story Of Desmond Doss That Was Too Heroic Even For 'Hacksaw Ridge', What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. About an hour into the caving expedition, John Jones decided to find the Nutty Putty Cave formation known as the Birth Canal, which is a tight passage that spelunkers must crawl through carefully and in addition to being extremely narrow and slippery, it is also extremely perpendicular to the ground, meaning that the person needs to go headfirst towards gravity, the opposite of what the human body is meant to do. . Nutty Putty Cave was closed in 2006 citing safety concerns and only reopened in May 2009 after a cave management plan was signed with the Timpanogos Grotto. Southwest farmers reluctant to idle farmland to save water, US aims to restore bison herds to Native American lands after near extinction, Lesion removed from President Joe Bidens chest was common skin cancer, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murdering wife, son, Jury quick to find Murdaugh guilty of murdering his wife, son, US Ambassador Cindy McCain appointed head of UN World Food Program, Valley Boys & Girls Club uses esports to help kids make healthy choices, Top prospects to watch at this years Arizona Fall League. But even once help came, John was still trapped 400 feet into the cave and 100 feet below the Earths surface. I guess at least he was in contact with people. That is why they could not even get his body out when he died. He died at the age of 23, leaving behind a wife (Emily), a daughter (Lizzie), and another child that was on the way to be born by June 2010. (Photo: Jones family). He has work to do and I need to figure out what Im going to do.. This was because John was stuck 100 feet below the surface and 400 feet into the cave system. She remains close with the family, including Johns siblings, who still call and check on her and ensure her family can make it to the annual Jones family reunion. On November 24, 2009, a man named John Edward Jones (January 21, 1983 November 25, 2009) became stuck and subsequently died in the cave after being trapped inside for 28 hours. In an interview, he said Id gone in it, in the front, and kind of said, Thats it, thats enough.. John Jones died in Nutty Putty Cave on Nov. 25, 2009. John Jones felt in this part of the cave that he would perhaps not be able to move forward unless he sucked his chest in a bit, or perhaps he did it instinctively, it is not known, but rescuers believe that his sucking his chest in at this point was the reason he went farther than he could have had he not done so, and right after that, when his chest expanded again because of his natural breathing rhythm, he got stuck. Id gone in it, in the front, and kind of said, Thats it, thats enough.'. John Jones died in Nutty Putty Cave Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. Who was John Edward Jones? John and Josh prayed at this point of the cave ordeal, and John said Guide us as we work through this, Save me for my wife and kids. The film focuses on the relationship between John with his daughter and wife as well as his terrifying experience and the aftermath of his death. They are picked up by John's brother Josh, who tells him that the Nutty Putty Cave has been opened after having been closed before. Roundy replays the rescue over and over in his head, even years after the incident. When Nutty Putty Cave attracted thousands of visitors every year that went caving, John Jones was the only fatality. John knew he was now just about stuck and had no room to turn around. (Photo: Utah County Sheriffs Office). The part that got me down was the feeling that my whole life, all my plans had been totally obliterated, she said. Officials sealed off Nutty Putty Cave for good a week after Johns death. It's not for nothing that three of the cave's tightest squeezes are called "The Helmet Eater," "The Scout Eater" and "The Birth Canal.". "They put themselves in situations that they probably wouldn't have if they had just stopped and thought about it for a minute. John Jones was a 26-year-old medical student who was. But no one will ever go in the cave again. They used to do this often as a bonding experience when John and his brother, Josh, were younger with their father. Josh tried to pull John by his calves, but this ended up with John sliding down the passage even further. Over the next 24 hours, more than 100 rescue personnel worked feverishly to free John Edward Jones from the depths of Nutty Putty Cave. . The accident Entering the cave On November 24, 2009, the brothers John and Josh decided to rekindle their love for caving and picked Nutty Putty Cave as their next conquest. I reviewed the whole mission, wishing wed have done this tiny detail differently or done that a little sooner. At Johns funeral, his LDS stake president mentioned something about his death happening for a reason, Emily said. Web John Jones was an average 26 year old married guy who went caving in the Nutty Putty cave in Utah on November 24th 2009 with his family and friends but tragically. He was just 12 years old and "grossly underprepared," but he nervously followed his troop down into the cave mouth and crawled on his belly through a narrow, muddy canal into a larger downward shaft called the Big Slide. "Had he been oriented the other way, it's my opinion he would have gotten out.". I guess at least he was in contact with people. Hi Susie, thanks for coming, John said, but I really, really want to get out.. The suffering and PAIN! His family thanked rescuers for their help even despite the horrible news. Jones, 26, had grown up in Utah but was attending medical school at the University of Virginia in 2009 when he returned home with his pregnant wife and 14-month-old daughter for Thanksgiving. In 2009, John Jones became stuck while exploring the Nutty Putty Cave near Elberta and died before rescuers could free him. They decided to marry, and Donovan called both Emilys father and Johns father to ask their permission. Johns death had caused such a stir that the Nutty Putty Cave was immediately closed to the public due to safety concerns. During an interview with the media Deseret. However, within minutes, he realized he was seriously stuck. After Johns death, she resolved to never remarry. The most recognizable characteristic of the cave was the strangely viscous clay oozing from some of its walls, which the cave's first explorer, a man named Dale Green, compared to Nutty Putty, the original product name for Silly Putty. Everything was ready, and they pulled as hard as they could. Leavitt has spent 29 years as a Boy Scout leader, and the cave was a favorite place of the young men ages 14 to 18. Anyways I just discovered the John Jones story and am fascinated by it. Many of the passages in this cave are this narrow or even narrower. The Nutty Putty Cave-John Edward Jones Case. On 24 November, 2009, John Edward Jones tragically passed away while exploring a hydrothermal cave in Utah known as 'Nutty Putty cave'. Utah County Sheriff's Office 9 of 15 While attempting to find the Birth Canal, Jones took a wrong turn and ended up in an unmapped section of the cave near Ed's Push. What a perfect thing to go hand in hand with Thanksgiving to remember all the things Im grateful for and all the ways Heavenly Father has blessed my life. She said that was the last thing she was interested in after John died. It was believed to be really easy and that's why all of your Boy Scouts and locals went in with flashlights and sandals and things. We had two rescues within about a week of each other about four years earlier. What a HORRIBLE way to die! Utah County Sheriffs Sgt. Facebook community groups petitioned to save the cave but failed. The reason this happened was because having his chest sucked in caused him to go into an even narrower portion of the cave, and because of this he was jammed at a point where he could not possibly go forward from and could not come back out either. On November 24, 2009, a few days before Thanksgiving, the Jones family and their friends decided to give the recently opened Nutty Putty Cave a try. John Jones, 26, set out to explore the Nutty Putty cave in Utah but ended up stuck in the cave, upside down, in a narrow passage for 27 hours but eventually died from suffocation and heart failure (source in the comments) . Imagine you were stuck there and no one knew about it. A perception has persisted in some circles that Susan Powells husband, Josh Powell, might have managed to slip her body into the narrow subterranean passageway to the west of Utah Lake on Blowhole Hill. The other one was about 11 hours long, Cannon said. At 28 hours upside down in the Nutty Putty Cave, rescuers attempted one last pull using a series of complex pulleys. Like countless Boy Scouts before him, Matt Paulson's very first caving experience was at Nutty Putty. [7] A large team of rescue workers came to his assistance but were unable to retrieve Jones using a sophisticated rope-and-pulley system after a pulley failed mid-extrication. John Edward Jones entered Nutty Putty Cave at around 8 p.m. local time on the evening of Nov. 24, 2009, a few days before Thanksgiving. Search and rescue personnel gather around the entrance to Nutty Putty Cave in southwest Utah County Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, as they work to free John Jones, who became stuck in the cave overnight. In fact, Nutty Putty had been closed to public access for years after those earlier rescues. Heres what you need to know, Japanese official denies Lee statement on commitment to expedite release of Lt. Ridge Alkonis, Utah Legislature finalizes record $29B budget. All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of, everything I hoped and everything I prayed for, couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given; I've been given what I need, she said, paraphrasing from Michael McLeans "The Forgotten Carols.". It was a startling tragedy for a family, a community of rescuers, and a state that followed the failed rescue effort, only to learn of the fatal outcome that came one day before Thanksgiving in 2009. John, Josh, and nine others entered into the cave system around 8 pm local time. Later on, the brothers and two of their friends decided to break off from the group to search for The Birth Canal thats a narrow and long tunnel. They succeeded in rigging a rope and pulley system to help lift him past the obstacle. It was found that many people who visited the cave didnt take proper safety precautions. bodies of climbers left behind on Mount Everest. They chose to visit Nutty Putty Cave. But a pre-Thanksgiving outing to the cave left John, 26, trapped. (Photo: Jones family) Two days before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 24, 2009, Jones entered Nutty Putty Cave with 11 other people. The Nutty Putty cave has therefore been closed since the John Jones incident and a plaque has been put up at the sealed mouth of the cave in his memory. After this introduction began the process of rescuing John Jones from the Nutty Putty Cave, but even after about 28 hours of effort nothing could be done. Paulson mourns the death of Jones, but insists that caving is a very safe activity, especially when it's done with the right equipment and with an experienced guide. Neck pain can debilitate ones daily routine, yet 80% of people experience it in their lives and 20%-50% deal with it annually. All Rights Reserved, John Edward Jones died in a cave, but his widow emerged from the darkness, Nutty Putty Cave accident victims widow: I know there is life after death, Man trapped in Utah Countys Nutty Putty cave dies, Five years after tragedy, Nutty Putty Cave remains sealed, Bidens not in a rush to announce hes running for reelection, The 2023 Utah Legislature has wrapped. He left behind his wife Emily, a young daughter and a baby boy on the way (he's named John). He never made it past the entrance. Heres how its spending your money, 2023 Sterling Scholars semifinalists: Southwest Region, 2023 Sterling Scholars semifinalists: Northeast Region. The boys learned to love the underground depths and their dark beauty. And now, with John Edward Jones trapped inside the cave, time was running out. [8] The cave was closed prior to Jones' death, but cavers had cut their way through the gated entrance. When the human body is stuck upside down for long periods of time, the heart has to work overtime to pump blood right, and especially to keep it moving away from the brain and lungs, where it tends to pool in this posture. He passed away at the age of 23 leaving his wife (Emily) as well as one daughter (Lizzie) and a third baby in the process of being born by June 10, 2010. John jones cave wife. A memorial plaque to John was placed near the entrance to Nutty Putty Cave. Guide us as we work through this, Josh prayed. In this brief guide we will look at the story about John Jones Cave, and how this tragic situation unfolded. He didnt even have room to wriggle back out the way hed come. On May 18, 2009, the cave was reopened to the public.[6]. Another showed John Edward Jones, a man who died in the cave less than two weeks before Susan Powell disappeared. He thanks you for reading his content. Because John Jones was stuck in the cave for so long, his heart was working far too much and he was quickly getting sicker and sicker because of the posture, and so sometime after midnight of November 25th, John Jones stopped responding, and it was ascertained that he had suffered from a cardiac arrest. John Edward Jones loved spelunking with this family. At age 26, John was in the prime of his life. His body was deemed unrecoverable and the cave will be sealed off. Theyre a really amazing family.. Thinking he saw a larger opening on the other side, Jones tried to squeeze headfirst through the tight spot and turn around, but he became hopelessly wedged at a 70-degree angle. Two days before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 24, 2009, Jones entered Nutty Putty Cave with 11 other people. The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. When they married in August 2012, her father, an LDS bishop, performed the ceremony, and Johns father walked her down the aisle. But within minutes, he realized hed made a grave mistake. Officials announced Friday afternoon that the cave will. We did our best.. I never would want bad things to happen, but in retrospect, were given what we need. Explorer Emily Vinton Maughen at the entrance of Nutty Putty Cave. This increase in danger led the authorities to severely restrict the number of visitors that were allowed inside Nutty Putty Cave. But it was later found that he was stuck in an unchartered territory near Eds Push.. The entrance of Nutty Putty Cave on Blowhole Hill in Utah County on March 7, 2019. And at six feet tall and 200 pounds, he wasnt the little kid he used to be. Paulson explains that Nutty Putty is what's known as a hypogenic cave, formed when superheated water is forced upward into a bed of limestone, and minerals in the water eat away at the rock above to create cave shafts. John left behind his wife, Emily Jones. According to rescuers, John Jones could not have been saved because the angle at which he was stuck and the kind of cave he was in made it impossible to get him out. She spent time with those she loved and also started to paint, finding that expressing herself through photography and painting was like therapy. His arms were now pinned beneath his chest and he couldnt move at all. Were blessed. In fact, the popularity had resulted in the cave getting over 25,000 visitors per year at its peak. I knew John was still out there. The Nutty Putty Cave has become infamous in the spelunking community because of the disturbing death of 26-year-old John Edward Jones. My worst nightmare. There came a point where it did seem like the pulley system they were using was about to work, and as they pulled John through the pulley it did seem like he moved a bit, but then his feet hit the ceiling above them as his body moved upward leading to the horrific realization that if they were to get him out, they would have to bend his legs in a way that would break them, and in doing so there would be a shock to his body that would likely either kill him or make any rescue even more impossible. John Jones smiles at his wedding in 2006, at age 23. When John Jones felt himself getting stuck he struggled to free himself, and that only made John slide deeper into the narrower, 8 1/2-inch-wide side of the fissure. IIRC he died, and the cave became his tomb. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Dave Roos At 11:56 p.m. on the night before Thanksgiving, the search and rescue team determined Jones had died. A man stuck upside-down in a cave for more than a day died early Thursday, despite the efforts of dozens of rescuers, authorities said. All John and Josh, both devout Mormons, could do at this point was pray. A deputy from the Utah County Sheriffs Office stands guard at the partially closed entrance to Nutty Putty Cave near Elberta Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Unfortunately, there was no second chance for the rescuers to get John out. "Hes such a little joy and Lizzie and John just adore him," she said. When I think of the hard things that Ive been through and the challenges I will go through, I just keep remembering that lesson that Heavenly Father has a plan for our lives and that even when we think we know whats best for us, Heavenly Father knows better.. The cave entrance is narrow with even more cramped and twisty passages, making it a perilous cave, even to experienced cavers. They did this frequently as a bonding moment as John and Josh, his brother Josh were young and living together with their father. Jones family via Deseret NewsJohn Edward Jones, the man who died inside Nutty Putty Cave in 2009. Called The Last Descent (see above), it gives you an accurate glimpse of Johns ordeal and what it feels like to be trapped in the most narrow of cave passageways when claustrophobia and then hopelessness set in.
