. Roundy believes that the pulley came loose at its anchor point in the cave wall, which contain a substantial amount of loose clay. John inched upward. But the cave would become a special place for her family. But when he reached the narrow crevice trapping 26-year-old John Jones in Utah Countys Nutty Putty Cave, he had to fight back tears. Nutty Putty is a hydrothermal cave known for its tight twists and crawl spaces; management has occasionally closed this cave off to the public due to its dangerous conditions. Saddened, John goes back to the cave. He never made it past the entrance. He is a composite character of the many workers who conversed with John during the attempted rescue. Above John, Susie s slight, 5-foot-3-inch frame was also encased. Emily talks with him for a minute before John seemingly dies. They both sing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in Spanish. He carried his own load. Now at the age of 26, John was in the prime of his life, who was married and was attending medical school in Virginia at the same time. Aaron manages to calm him down, but not before John injures himself. Rescuers tied John with a rope connected to a series of pulleys. John continues to tell him about his relationship with Emily, and reveals that when he first proposed to her she declined, and his family did not take to it kindly. Aaron, Susie and other workers plan to pull John out of the hole by drilling pulleys into the walls and hooking the ropes to his feet. When he came to, blood was everywhere. He assures John that everything will be all right, and promises him that he'll get out of the cave. Back in 2004, two Boy Scouts had nearly lost their lives in separate incidents in the same area of Nutty Putty Cave where John became trapped. At first, they reacted with horror. One user wrote: "I hope she does not read these comments and i hope none of u have to go through what she has in her life. The two Boy Scouts had become trapped within a week of each other. Time slips by strangely underground, and Susie had only a vague notion of its passing. Utah County Sheriff's Office 9 of 15 Lists of true accounts of real people who survived unfathomable situations and depictions of fights for survival in film, TV, video games, and other media. When she ran out of things to say, she started humming an LDS hymn, High on the Mountain Top.. Leon Jones worked his way out, but the story entered the pantheon of family lore. Chadwick Hopson as John Jones, a medical student who gets stuck in an 18-inch wide hole in Nutty Putty Cave. 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. He was a medical student at the University of Virginia who was married to a woman named Emily and had a daughter named Lizzie, with a second child on the way to be born in June of 2010. At the age of 26, he was studying medicine at the University of Virginia. "This in not the end of life. His wife, Emily Jones Sanchez, and their two children were left behind. She arrived at approximately 12:30am - John had been trapped for about 3.5 hours. having a film made about it. The reply seemed to come from the other end of a long hallway. It wasnt just a job.. The drilling is finished and the attempt to pull John out commences. Some considered Nutty Putty a "beginner's cave,"but it had several narrow spaces where people had previously gotten stuck. John left behind his wife, Emily Jones Sanchez, and their two children. ", If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677, Featured Image Credit: Jones Family Handout, Topics:Mental Health, US News, Social Media, Facebook, Ed Sheeran wrote seven tracks in four hours after wife Cherry's cancer diagnosis, Sky commentator Martin Tyler accused of 'racist' comment about Tottenhams Son Heung-min, Gordon Ramsay pays tribute to MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo after his sudden death, MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo has died at the age of 46, Netflix confirms Top Boy final season release date and drops trailer, Mermaid statue with 'big bum' criticised for being 'too sexual', Australian Who Woke From Surgery With Irish Accent Still Hasn't Lost It One Year On, Paddy The Baddy Leaves O2 In Tears After Dedicating Fight Win To Friend Who Died On Friday, Tributes paid to woman killed by Great white shark as family watched on, Family Sues Meta After Blaming Instagram For Daughter's Eating Disorder. Rescuers believe that John initially tried to wiggle himself free, but only wedged himself further into the space. But within minutes, he realized hed made a grave mistake. The next day, on Dec. 2, 2009, contractors poured concrete into the main opening of the cave. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. At sixfeet tall and weighing180 pounds, John got wedgedintoa situation where his head was below his feet, causing the blood to rush to his upper torso and head. Emily Jones-Sanchez is photographed with her husband, Donovan, and children, Lizzie, John and Emerson. It may be surprising to many that Jones' family has decided to share these final, tragic moments of his life with the world, but his wife, Emily, says she decided to share his story to show people the kind of man he was as well as to share the message that there is hope of seeing those we love again. John was married to Emily, the couple had one child and his wife was pregnant with another baby. The first rescuer to reach John was a woman named Susie Motola, who arrived at about 12:30 AM on November 25. And Susie poured her heart out. He wrapped his feet around Johns calves and pulled. to remind him he wasnt in the hole alone. His older brother was helpless in a dark hole. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Murdock headed for the scene, knowing blood and fluids would be pooling in Johns brain and lungs. Once rescuers realized how difficult it was to free John, they started brainstorming. Most of the passages were dangerously narrow, even at the entrance, where warning signs had been placed. This is the passage that John Jones thought he had found when he got stuck. He waited two months until she was sure. John left behind his wife, Emily Jones Sanchez,. But John hadnt moved, spoken or breathed for hours. The team pulled. I know John is still alive. So they agreed. They struggled to free him in part because of the angle and position of his body. He just knows that the kids need to remember their dad so hes good about wanting to stay in touch with the Joneses and he loves the Joneses.. He rubbed Johns leg. During the evening of November 24,2009, John Jones and a group of fellowcave explorers entered Nutty Putty Cave located near Salt Lake City, UT. What if hes not dead, and we all leave and he wakes up and no ones there? He was married, had a one-year-old daughter, and was attending medical school in Virginia. He was exhausted. Its an open wound.. In fact, Nutty Putty had been closed to public access for years after those earlier rescues. 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. Thousands of people have explored the cave, which was once so popular that line formed at its entrance. We had two rescues within about a week of each other about four years earlier. On 24 November, 2009, John Edward Jones . Just wondering, when you die and go to heaven, who will you be with? But no one will ever go in the cave again. Only her headlamp lighted the caves absolute darkness; the only sounds were those the rescuers made. But as he talked, his voice grew more nasal, his breathing labored. Officials sealed off Nutty Putty Cave for good a week after Johns death. John Edward Jones, 26, will have his final resting place in the Nutty Putty Cave, as members of the Utah County Sherriff's office announced there will be no more rescue efforts due to the dangers of the cave. It breaks my heart how easily people focus on happiness in this earthly life instead of holding on and wait to be re-united.". Fighting a black depression, he crawled back out of the hole, stopping every few minutes so he wouldnt vomit. John Jones, left, and his wife, Emily Dawn Jones. These Western states may have the answer, Utah golf: Tony Finau win No. RIP JOHN IF I WAS YOUR WIFE I WOULD HAVE NEVER MOVED ON SOO SOON AND WOULD BE SHARING YOUR STORY AND LIFE. When rescuers told trauma physician Doug Murdock that John was nearly upside down, he knew the trapped man didnt have much time. Jones Family Photo 8 of 15 An unidentified rescue worker, works near John Jones in the Nutty Putty Cave, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. And at six feet tall and 200 pounds, he wasnt the little kid he used to be. He brought a water pouch filled with Gatorade and stretched the attached tube down to John so he could drink. Rescuers ordered 6 gallons of vegetable oil to help slide John out. The first rescue person to arrive was a volunteer named Susie Motola. He was trapped nearly upside down, his 6-foot, 200-pound body seemingly swallowed by the rock. The rope was strung through nearly 15 tandem pulleys drilled into the wall of the cave. The rescuers came to a horrible realization: The angle of the tunnel meant they couldnt bend Johns body backward without likely breaking his legs. Patty Jo Engels is known for Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010), Nerve (2011) and Cold Stone (2012). John Jones 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. I cant tell you how many people came up to me and said, Nobody knows this but weve been really struggling in our marriage, Jones-Sanchez said. This is Part 1 of the Nutty Putty rescue. Volunteers from two cave exploration organizations andpersonnel from 10neighboring fire departments worked to free John, with more than 130 people on the scene in total. Inside The Gruesome Death Of Bonnie And Clyde At The Hands Of A Trigger-Happy Posse. The Last Descent: Directed by Isaac Halasima. John Edward Joness brother was the first to find him. The baby was due on Ryans birthday, June 13. The brothers made small talk to take their minds out of the cave. John oscillated between calm, coherent conversation to helplessly thrashing his legs in sheer panic. John's condition continues to worsen as the hours go by. The Utah County Sheriffs Office set up a command center and rescue leaders ran through idea after idea. Why did the family of the LDS student who died in Nutty Putty caves decide to let his death and story be shared with millions around the world? It breaks my heart how easily people focus on happiness in this earthly life instead of holding on and wait to be re-united.". A good one. Well, when we get you out of here, Ill be your workout buddy, he said. John Jones and his fellow spelunkers, including his brother Josh,had experience with caving, though this was John's first time at Nutty Putty. 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. Despite the arrival of a massive rescue crew which tried to save him, Jonesdied around midnight on November 26. They initially created the pulley system using climbing cams, but the anchors couldnt get a strong grip in the layer of powdery calcite that coated the caves walls. The cave had been open for only six months when John got stuck. Jones had been descending head-first when he became pinned in place. He has been involved in past rescues that have ended tragically, and he vows to not leave without rescuing John. supports HTML5 video, Estimated read time: 5-6 When Ryan reached John, he loosened the knots earlier rescuers had tied around his legs. His conversation is overshadowed with flashbacks from when he first met Emily to them dating. John Edward Jones with his wife Emily before the Nutty Putty Cave incident that took his life. 3: Tragedy at Nutty Putty Cave, The challenge of consent: Utah's rape law and low prosecution rate, How much did donors give the University of Utah during its just-completed giving campaign? When he saw a fissure that dropped nearly straight down in front of him, it may have appeared to widen out at the bottom, giving him a spot to turn around. Aaron climbs down and finds John, whose condition is starting to deteriorate. In the wake of Jones death, the Utah County Sheriff floated the idea of permanently sealing the cave. The water flowed down his arm, and Susie hoped some of it might reach his mouth. A record $3B, Utah soldier, 2 others, killed in Alaska helicopter crash, U. English classes help immigrants bridge the gap to career, education goals, Bride says her wedding dress held 'hostage' in billing dispute involving Bed Bath & Beyond. He spent the remainder of his life surrounded by rock, 150 feet below the surfaceof the Earth, unable to free himself from its clutches. The cave had only been reopened for six months in 2009 when John and his family entered. My legs are killing me.. This archived news story is available Shortly after he arrived, rescue crews got a set of heavy-duty air chisels and drills they would use to rebuild a pulley system designed to pull John out of the fissure. Instead, Brandon Kowallis, another member of Utah Cave Rescue whod just arrived at Nutty Putty Cave, crawled into the tunnel to take his place. He asked John to suck his stomach in, but he didnt respond. But Johns feet hit the tunnels low ceiling. Crews would seal it with concrete at its main entrance, both to give the family peace and to prevent another injury. With his heart struggling to pump blood into his legs, the contact made him scream in pain. One of the bolts anchoring the pulleys broke, and John was back into his initial position. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? The entire system starts to fail.. Save me for my wife and kids, John said. Explorer Emily Vinton Maughen at the entrance of Nutty Putty Cave. Then, its owners sealed the cave with Jones body inside to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. bodies of climbers left behind on Mount Everest. If the rescuers were to free John, those toxins could rush to his heart and kill him. This page was last edited on 10 April 2023, at 14:32. Everything was ready, and they pulled as hard as they could. Though hed escaped with cuts and bruises and stitches on his tongue, his upper lip swelled so much that it drooped over his chin. A new movie set to release in Utah theaters on September 16 shares the heartbreaking story of Latter-day Saint father and husband John Edward Jones. John, look up at me, Ryan said. We were aware that it would be really challenging to have to open back up that part of our lives and also expose our family to the public eye and criticism and the painful experiences, rehashing everything, Jones-Sanchez said. Rescuers believe John sucked in his chest to investigate the fissure, sliding his torso over a lip of rock and down into the 10-inch-wide side of the crevice. The best plan they had was to use a system of pulleys and ropes to try to free John from his perilously tight spot. Hours later, he is woken by Susie, a rescue worker. Caver Dale Green discovered Nutty Putty in 1960 and named it after the clay he found in much of its 1,400 feet of chutes and tunnels. The first goal of the rescue teamwas to get John into a situation that would minimize strain onhis heart and lungs. John Edward Jones tragically died on 24 November 2009 whilst caving in Nutty Putty Cave in Utah, a hydrothermal cave. Ryan said he knew John would still be with her. Its just that I know, Emily said. But Hodgson, one of the onscene commanders, was focused on his earlier promise to the Jones family that rescuers would bring John out of the darkness. 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. What's behind shortages of Adderall, Ozempic and other meds? Josh, at John's behest, reluctantly leaves him to go get help. When Utah filmmaker Isaac Halasima approached Emily Jones-Sanchez with the idea of making a movie about her late-husband, John Jones a spelunker who died in the Nutty Putty Cave in November of 2009, after massive but unsuccessful rescue attempts she wasn't sure what to make of it. While he waited for a drill to make a new pulley hole, Dave tried to wrap a rope around Johns waist. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's, Cold: US Marshal shares insider account of Susan Powell investigation, Top stories of 2009, No. He was 100 percent right on there with his religion. It was a controlled-access location, but given theirexperience, Jones and his friends received permission from management to go spelunking. But its no use second-guessing things. Its not that I believe because its the only thing that gets me through. Unfortunately, Nutty Putty becameJones's final resting place. John was exploring the cave alongside his brother, but got stuck in a narrow tunnel. They traversed its chambers for about 30 minutes before reaching the 135-foot tunnel where John was stuck. All rights reserved. Roundy replays the rescue over and over in his head, even years after the incident. Jones-Sanchez gives her husband a great deal of the credit for this. At 11:56 p.m. on the night before Thanksgiving, the search and rescue team determined Jones had died. ", Once it was clear that Jones couldn't escape on his own or with help of his fellow cavers, authorities became involved. The team pulled, but didnt have enough power to move John: The friction of the rope rubbing stone was too strong. After the pulley system failed, rescuers started to rig up a secondrope and pulley mechanism to help him. The rescuers had little room to move and very little grip with which to pull. John, Im bleeding, Ive got to get out, but its OK. Everythings OK. It had only reopened under an online reservation system managed by a local caving organization in early 2009. Juliane Cunha Then it was Dave who was stuck. Other cavers exploring this hole had found that only the nimblest of contortionists could navigate its tight corkscrew of rock. The man is later revealed to be the spirit of his unborn son. "Its never been hard to remember John," she said. It took him 15 minutes to crawl out of the crack. Shed had her chance to show she could serve as well as anyone, that she could help someone. Josh listened. Each trip into the tunnel to pass a piece of gear took nearly an hour. Instead of widening so John could get out, the crack narrowed and all but closed. Maybe it's because as people learned more about the life of John Jones and his response to a life or death situation, they wanted to be better. John Edward Jones had experience exploring caves when he was younger and visited Nutty Putty Cave with his brother Josh and nine other people on November 24, 2009. John Jones 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. A medical student from the University of Virginia, John Edward Jones explored the Nutty Putty Cave in November 2009. Jacob Omer as Josh Jones, John's brother. In 2009, John Jones, a 26-year-old medical student and experienced caver, arrives in Utah for the Thanksgiving weekend with his wife Emily and young daughter Lizzie. The family had just prayed together, and Emily had new hope. No, it ended shortly after the crack where John was stuck. "Ever since the very beginning, ever since I first met Donovan, hes been really comfortable with John continuing to be a part of our family and our lives, especially because of our kids. Well get John out. Although the 26-year-old father of one hadn't been to this particular cave, he was confident in his abilities . He never woke up. Theyre both irrepressible outdoors lovers, and now Susie gets an invitation when Josh gathers a group to go camping, mountain biking or kayaking. They also thought about using explosives,but the danger to John was too great. When he reached the corkscrew, he got stuck himself. One user wrote: "I hope she does not read these comments and I hope none of you have to go through what she has in her life. They imagine what they wouldve done and how they wouldve felt had they been placed in her position. He notices that the injuries he sustained have disappeared. I just know that hes still watching out for us, that our family is still a family.. Well get him out for you, Utah County sheriffs Lt. Tom Hodgson said. They told us that John got stuck about 8:45 p.m. We got the notification sometime I believe just before 9:30, Cannon said. State Senator John Valentine, a rescue worker with about 30 years' worthof experience, called the rescue "very agonizing." 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. PG | Drama Watch options Official Trailer In 2009, John Jones explored an un-mapped section of the famous Nutty Putty Cave. Family goes on. Thanksgiving dinner was an Ensure shake through a straw. They split up, wriggling into alcoves and passages to look for it. A second tip suggesting the same arrived one day later. John was by then attending medical school in Virginia, where he lived with his wife, Emily, and 1-year-old daughter, Lizzie. Jones died after being trapped for over 24 hours. Emily wanted to serve a church mission and had been called to Madagascar. Over the next 28 hours, rescuers worked frantically to free Jones, finding a way to give him an IV and let him talk to his wife over a police radio, but ultimately they could not rescue Jones before he suffocated. They couldnt put the rescuers in any more danger. In his weakened state, the shock could kill him. The rescue team weren't even able to reach his body, so the cave was closed down and sealed off around Jones' body and turned into a memorial for the father.