Emily had always known her husband of 3 1/2 years to be persistent and patient. Drills and chisels continued to arrive throughout the day, but the larger equipment was too big to position near John. The Story of John Jones and Nutty Putty Cave 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 got stuck and eventually died in the cave. They never recovered his body, which remains inside to this day, for fear of more deaths that might result from such an operation. John's condition continues to worsen as the hours go by. 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. That relief evaporated when the rigging failed and Jones dropped back into the same trap from which hed been freed. In the cave, John encounters another spirit in the form of an infant. He screamed. The rescuers worked through Tuesday night and into the day on Wednesday attempting to free Jones. But he smiled. They even considered explosives. In an interview with Deseret News, Emily spoke out against the trolling and stood behind her new husband, explaining that it's 'never been hard to talk about John' to her second spouse Donovan Sanchez. In 2016, filmmaker Isaac Halasima produced and directed a full-length feature film about the life and failed rescue of John Jones. The two talked, prayed, and sang hymns until help was on the way. She took Lizzie and drove to the cave with Johns parents. Well get John out. She knew Nutty Putty, and she could go where others couldnt. They worked through their grief together, building a healing friendship. Hi Susie, thanks for coming, John said, but I really, really want to get out.. I know John is still alive. On 24 November, 2009, John Edward Jones tragically passed away while exploring a hydrothermal cave in Utah known as 'Nutty Putty cave'. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax He was 100 percent right on there with his religion. John went in headfirst, pushing himself along with his hips, his stomach, his fingers. Emily forced herself to get into a car with Johns family and leave her husband behind. After nearly an hour, Josh heard rescuers were at the caves entrance and went to find them. Only her headlamp lighted the caves absolute darkness; the only sounds were those the rescuers made. Since he was 4, he has spent most of his free time exploring caves and more than once acted as a trapped victim for Utah Cave Rescue, a group his father helped found. She's wrong. John falls asleep and has a vision of his daughter in a field, but with an older man wearing grey clothing, whom he has seen before in hallucinations, after which he wakes up and suffers a panic attack. Josh Powell was, at the least, aware of the cave. Ryan yelled for the teams to lower him, to give him a rest. The entire system starts to fail.". About an hour into the caving expedition, John decided to find the Nutty Putty Cave formation known as the Birth Canal, a tight passage that spelunkers must crawl through carefully if they dare. His body was in bent position, and there was a lip of rock that "basically captured the center part of his body. Just six volunteers had been able to crawl throught he tunnel to reach John, out of a total of 137 rescuers who responded. The entire system starts to fail.. Rescue commanders on the surface also knew how much thoughts of his family helped John in his dark prison. Just wondering, when you die and go to heaven, who will you be with? Uniformed deputies remained at the opening of the cave 24-hours a day from the night of Jones death until Nutty Puttys permanent closure the following week. I used to be so afraid of tight, enclosed spaces and the dark, she said. tried to put the pulley in and found the hole was too small. As families, we know that we will be happy and that we will be together as a family again, with John.". John hadn't gone into a cave in years when the two brothers met for Thanksgiving at their parents' Stansbury Park home. Ryan tried to ready John for what was about to happen. Nutty Putty Cave is a naturally-formed thermal cave located on the west side of Utah Lake, 55 miles from Salt Lake City in Utah. 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. Each trip into the tunnel to pass a piece of gear took nearly an hour. Hole in the ground with maze.. On Nov. 26, he had to break his promise again. Its not that I believe because its the only thing that gets me through. 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. He realizes that man was always his son, and tearfully tells the infant to watch over his mother and sister. It breaks my heart how easily people focus on happiness in this earthly life instead of holding on and wait to be re-united.". John had been exploring the cave with his brother but got stuck in a narrow tunnel. Save me for my wife and kids, John said. They traversed its chambers for about 30 minutes before reaching the 135-foot tunnel where John was stuck. 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. Johns body inched up, but he had nothing to hold onto and slipped back into the crevice as soon as Josh released him. 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. "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. John was married to Emily, the couple had one child and his wife was pregnant with another baby. He was born January 21, 1983 in Sandy, Utah. He has been involved in past rescues that have ended tragically, and he vows to not leave without rescuing John. Hi, Susie, thanks for coming, but I really, really want to get out, said 26-year-old John Jones. I make it one of my passions and my loves.. Nutty Putty Cave Was A Hotspot For Underground Explorers Until One Spelunker Got Trapped Inside. The man is later revealed to be the spirit of his unborn son. But they were still able to retrieve a body for loved ones. Mark Webb as Sheriff Hodgson, the leader in the rescuing effort. He notices that the injuries he sustained have disappeared. He couldnt twist through a rocky corkscrew that led out of the tunnel. 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. While talking with Aaron again, they each realize they both served Latter Day Saints missions in Spanish speaking countries. Rescuers believe that John initially tried to wiggle himself free, but only wedged himself further into the space. She read a friends blog about finding a blessing in terrible things. Under the pressure of Johns body and the crews pulling, the stone arch had shattered and the rope tied around it had broken, sending a heavy metal carabiner straight at Ryans face. Then, its owners sealed the cave with Jones body inside to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. It comprises many rooms connected by small tunnels and narrow corridors. Well get him out for you, Utah County sheriffs Lt. Tom Hodgson said. The reason John Jones basically caused his own demise by pushing himself further and further in was because he mistakenly thought he was somewhere else that was leading to an open area where he could turn around. Against the sheer impossibility of it all, John might get out. It was really serious.. 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. At age 26, John was in the prime of his life. Emily wanted to serve a church mission and had been called to Madagascar. And at six feet tall and 200 pounds, he wasnt the little kid he used to be. A tall, broad-shouldered man in his 50s with buzzed hair and a bristle-brush mustache introduced himself as one of the on-scene commanders. Hows it going?. Hot rising water formed the ancient fissure, and the still-humid air is slowly but constantly degrading the rock. Just keep fighting! Emily s voice crackled through the box. He is a composite character of the many workers who conversed with John during the attempted rescue. William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. 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. Susie knew what it was like to be alone in the darkness at Nutty Putty Cave. [3], The film had a limited release but received generally positive reviews, with praise for its direction, acting and cinematography, but received some criticism for its tone and pacing. He wrapped his feet around Johns calves and pulled. He was stuck in the tunnel for over 25 hours, but because of the pressure his body felt and the position he was stuck in, he tragically could not be safely rescued. His father frequently took him and his brother, Josh, on caving expeditions in Utah when they were kids. It was kind of like a big brother, saying Come on now, shipshape.. And while time has passed and they lead a happy life together, Emily and Donovan have also retained Johns memory. Ryan tried to speak as reassuringly as he could with a tongue sliced nearly in half. In his weakened state, the shock could kill him. Shed had her chance to show she could serve as well as anyone, that she could help someone. They talked about Joshs girlfriend, whether he should follow John into medical school. The Nubian Pyramids Of Sudan Are Just As Impressive As Those In Egypt So Why Aren't They As Well-Known? John Edward Jones was born on January 21, 1983, and was a Utah native. As he talks to the baby, he realizes the baby is his soon to be born son. He might live. 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. For Emily, the peace she found after saying that final prayer with Johns family never left her. 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. But then John slid down into the passage even further, becoming trapped worse than before. The cave was named Nutty Putty because of the large . Roundy believes that the pulley came loose at its anchor point in the cave wall, which contain a substantial amount of loose clay. so just maybe he sent someone to help her get through it its not easy to go through life on a good day so give it up i hope she is every bit happy and blessed and the same to her beautiful children. 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. 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. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? When he got the drill, Dave stood in the crack next to John and pointed up, drilling madly, struggling in the damp, humid conditions. His head pointed downward at an angle of 70 to 80 degrees. Roundy replays the rescue over and over in his head, even years after the incident. I know because Ive been able to talk to him since he died, and Ive had several experiences where the veil has been thin, and Ive had these sacred moments where I dont understand everything and my faith is not perfect, but I know hes out there, and I know theres life after death, and I know our family will be together again so that perspective pretty much changes everything. "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.". The rescuers invested 3,700 cumulativehours of effort, and stood sidebyside with the family throughout the ordeal. However, despite it being over 10 years since John passed away, the mother has faced continuous online abuse on her Facebook page. She was carried down the aisle by John's father. Donate to the newsroom now. As the hours passed, rescuers arrived from all over Utah. After Emily leaves with Josh's car, the two brothers enter the cave. His jaw felt broken, and his eye was swelling. A good one. Donate to the newsroom now. Above John, Susie s slight, 5-foot-3-inch frame was also encased. Jones-Sanchez gives her husband a great deal of the credit for this. . Before John died, shed heard about people who felt closer to God after a tragedy and wondered if their faith was truly stronger or if it was all they had left. He wore a rainbow-colored, 1970s-style caving headlamp his father had bought for the family trips of his childhood. Guide us as we work through this, Josh prayed, and worked his way free. Where Utah high school and college football players signed after 2023 NFL draft, Utah man, 70, survives cougar attack while on a solo hike, Biden attacks news outlets for 'lies of conspiracy and malice', Retiring coal-fired power plants need a replacement. He waited two months until she was sure. She couldnt fully extend her arms and legs, but she was confident. This one is very tender still. The rope moved. His wife, Emily Jones Sanchez, and their two children were left behind. But rescuers finally had the power to pull him out. At 11:56 p.m. on the night before Thanksgiving, the search and rescue team determined Jones had died. Thet rip, after all, had been his idea. It sucks; Im upside down. The team pulled, but didnt have enough power to move John: The friction of the rope rubbing stone was too strong. The cave had been open for only six months when John got stuck. 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 cave had only been reopened for six months in 2009 when John and his family entered. The baby was due on Ryans birthday, June 13. The families still talk and are friends. He was tearing up, Emily remembered, which confused her. He picked up the phone to tell the family his teams wouldnt be able to get Johns body out of the cave. Im so sorry. 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. "Its never been hard to remember John," she said. Jones family via Deseret NewsJohn Edward Jones, the man who died inside Nutty Putty Cave in 2009. John picked a waist-high hole to explore. 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. After those rescues in 2004, the Nutty Putty Cave was closed to the public. Theyd been through rescues where, despite all efforts, the victim died. Perhaps that's why it's not uncommon for stories about the tragic accident to suddenly appear on the most-read list online at DeseretNews.com from time to time, even seven years later. A radio is lowered into the cave and John is able to speak with Emily, who reveals she is pregnant. As he tries to go back and free himself, he falls into an even smaller hole and passes out. Though hed escaped with cuts and bruises and stitches on his tongue, his upper lip swelled so much that it drooped over his chin. Why did you guys put me here? John replied. It was John's first caving expedition in the Nutty Putty cave that turned out to be his last. 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. The best plan they had was to use a system of pulleys and ropes to try to free John from his perilously tight spot. And some people even said, Weve been considering divorce and after hearing about your loss and everything youve been through, its really just put life in perspective for us and weve recommitted to loving each other better and to our marriage and to our family. And I think tragedy does often put life into perspective for us., It is the opportunity to share this perspective that motivated Jones-Sanchez and her late husbands family, despite their initial hesitance, to allow his story to be told in a film that will open in theaters this weekend titled, The Last Descent.". Moving on wasnt easy. This page was last edited on 10 April 2023, at 14:32. Down in the cave, though, John didnt respond, Kowallis said. This is the passage that John Jones thought he had found when he got 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.
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