WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT 26-year-old father-to-be John Edward Jones was an experienced caver from Utah, although one fatal mistake back in 2009 cost him is life
The rescuer who was the last person to see a young father-to-be who died trapped inside a tiny cave has shared the horrifying final thing to father-to-be saw.
Nutty Putty Cave in Utah had long attracted thrill-seekers and cave explorers, who came from far and wide to navigate its maze of twisting, slippery passages and clay-coated walls.
First mapped in the 1960s, the cave gained a reputation for its tight squeezes, attracting thousands every year. But its popularity came at a real cost. In 2008, several cavers became stuck inside its cramped tunnels, and despite all being released, authorities decided to temporarily close the entrance over safety concerns.
Despite attempts to restrict access, the cave was reopened in May 2009 under a new permit system, and just months later, tragedy struck. In November that year, 26-year-old medical student and soon-to-be first time dad John Edward Jones joined some friends and relatives to explore the cave during the Thanksgiving holidays.
An experienced caver, he set out in search of a narrow crawlway known as the “Birth Canal.” However, deep within the cave’s maze-like structure, John mistakenly entered a similar-looking but unmapped entrance near a section called Ed’s Push. Believing the drop ahead to be the turnaround point, he slid in head-first.
The passage measured just 10 by 18 inches. Once inside, John realised to his horror he couldn’t turn, back out, or even move his body. He was completely trapped in a pitch-black crevice more than 400 feet from daylight.
The alarm was quickly raised, and dozens of rescuers descended into the cave. They worked tirelessly for hours, setting up a complex rope-and-pulley system to slowly lift him upward. At one point, they gained inches of progress, but at the last moment the rigging became unattached, meaning John was sent sliding back into the rock.
Despite being trapped himself, John was reportedly more concerned about a volunteer who had been injured during the rescue operation. “Is he OK? I think he’s really hurt bad,” he is said to have asked.
By the time cave explorer and Brandon Kowallis joined the operation, John had been stuck for several hours.
Speaking to the Daily Mail , Kowallis described hearing a series of gurgling breaths, which he believes was fluid filling John’s lungs, and seeing his legs twitch uncontrollably as his body deteriorated. “He was in and out of consciousness and talking about seeing angels and demons,” he said.
Three hours into his ordeal, John was greeted by Susie, another volunteer who was trying to free him and who he seemed relieved to see. “Hi Susie, thanks for coming but I really, really want to get out,” he reportedly said, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. However, as the reality of his predicament set in, panic ensued. “I’m going to die right here. I’m not going to come out of here, am I?” he heartbreakingly asked..
A radio was lowered so his family could speak to him. A paramedic reached him soon afterwards and pronounced him dead at 11:52pm. Recovering his body was deemed too dangerous, and so the cave was sealed with concrete and remains permanently closed.
