Roundy believes that the pulley came loose at its anchor point in the cave wall, which contain a substantial amount of loose clay. In one of the cases, rescue crews took 14 hours to free a 16-year-old Scout who weighed 140 pounds and was 57 tall, making him much smaller than John using a complex series of pulleys. Moving on wasnt easy. On Nov. 26, he had to break his promise again. It was kind of like a big brother, saying Come on now, shipshape.. The first goal of the rescue teamwas to get John into a situation that would minimize strain onhis heart and lungs. "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. Most of the passages were dangerously narrow, even at the entrance, where warning signs had been placed. His face was muddy and his eyes were red from crying. It usually does come up, she says. John Edward Jones passed away while spelunking in the Nutty Putty Cave of Utah on November 24th, 2009. And the team had grown close to both the trapped man and his family. But as she tied a webbed rope into a Lovers Knot around his ankles, she realized bringing John out of the cave was going to be like swimming backward against a very strong current. The answer is beautiful and profound. These experiences are not shown in the film and Jones-Sanchez says they are not things she would share in detail in a movie or a newspaper article because they are special. It had reopened just six months before John Jones had entered the cave. However, as John is starting to get pulled out, one of the drills come undone, making dirt explode in all directions, and resulting in John falling back in the hole. It was a controlled-access location, but given theirexperience, Jones and his friends received permission from management to go spelunking. 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 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. Jones-Sanchez currently lives in Peoria, Illinois, where she and her current husband, Donovan Sanchez, moved to be closer to her parents. And I think that would be the worst-case scenario but best-case scenario would be that people come away from this movie remembering what they felt when they first heard about the story, remembering how much they wanted to treasure their loved ones and to put everything they had into their relationships and into making the most of this time that we have together. With each tug, he moved a little farther. [4][5], "Utah filmmaker's 'The Last Descent' retells Nutty Putty cave tragedy", "Powerful 'The Last Descent' searches for hope in the 2009 Nutty Putty Cave tragedy", "Movie review: 'Last Descent' tells story behind a Utah tragedy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Last_Descent&oldid=1149160162. I wasnt, she said. They talked about Joshs girlfriend, whether he should follow John into medical school. I love you! One of the bolts anchoring the pulleys broke, and John was back into his initial position. web browser that I know John is still alive. I think hes really hurt bad.. He couldnt push himself up. The team pulled. Shed given her husband, struggling so hard for her, for his family, against something so impossible, permission to be at peace for a moment. On 24 November, 2009, John Edward Jones tragically passed away while exploring a hydrothermal cave in Utah known as 'Nutty Putty cave'. ", A third user said: "Just saw the movie of the story of John. That night, Josh drives Emily to the entrance of the cave where he convinces the lead rescuers into letting her stay at the entrance. In the wake of Jones death, the Utah County Sheriff floated the idea of permanently sealing the cave. 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. John Edward Jones was born on January 21, 1983, and was a Utah native. It worked to get Jones past the fishhook of the rock lip, causing some relief on the afternoon of Nov. 25. When 23-year-old Josh learned his brother was stuck, he thought it was the beginning of another family adventure story. I dont want to be on my head, John told Ryan when he arrived. Ryans father, Dave Shurtz, was also working the haul line. 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. As he goes deeper into the cave, he gets stuck in a small passageway. 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 would never see daylight again after stepping foot inside the cave. The bereaved wife since went on to remarry, and has had two more children with her new husband. Aaron climbs down and finds John, whose condition is starting to deteriorate. Underrated Cinematic Survival Competitions, Great Movies About Missions Doomed from the Start, Survival Myths to Unlearn Before It's Too Late, Must-See Newer Survival Movies and TV Series, Great Movies About Kids Trying to Stay Alive, No One Could Save John Jones From His Tragic Spelunking Accident - But His Death Sparked Change, Provided by Emily Jones/via Desert Rat News. 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. He spent the remainder of his life surrounded by rock, 150 feet below the surfaceof the Earth, unable to free himself from its clutches. Another comment reads: "Is that John on ur profile picture? They strung the line 400 feet from the entrance to Johns tunnel, then gave a speaker to Ryan. Dave was spent. But removing John after his death would be even harder than it was when he was alive. For more information visit www.wondery.com/plus. Kendrey Flake as Lizzie, John's young daughter. Paul Tan as Dr. Doug Murdock, a medical expert who provides information warning the rescuers of John's condition in the cave. But no one will ever go in the cave again. only for your personal, non-commercial use. On 24 November, 2009, John Edward Jones tragically passed away while exploring a hydrothermal cave in Utah known as 'Nutty Putty cave'. . They couldnt put the rescuers in any more danger. The smaller equipment was too slow: When they tried to widen the rocky corkscrew to prepare for Johns exit, it took an hour and a half to drill through just 6 inches of rock. One was, I dont know, maybe 6 or 7 hours long. While talking with Aaron again, they each realize they both served Latter Day Saints missions in Spanish speaking countries. Then his feet hit the low ceiling. When Ryan reached John, he loosened the knots earlier rescuers had tied around his legs. He never made it past the entrance. He looked fine. They were so close to John, but everything they tried had failed. He picked up the phone to tell the family his teams wouldnt be able to get Johns body out of the cave. John was married to Emily, the couple had one child and his wife was pregnant with another baby. Hours later, he is woken by Susie, a rescue worker. Losing someone is hard enough and going through pregnancy on your own [and] having to look at those kids every day knowing what happened to their dad. But suddenly, and without warning, one of the pulleys failed. But as he talked, his voice grew more nasal, his breathing labored. Among the smallest of the dedicated band of search-and-rescue volunteers in rugged Utah County, Susie couldnt carry the biggest packs and she got cold faster. Hes dying right now. 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. The cave is famous among the locals and is considered a good cave to explore for new spelunkers. Britain's Got Talent viewers believe they have found out the real identity of CGI cat Noodle, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson celebrate 35 years of marriage, Too Hot To Handle star Chloe Veitch comes out after hiding 'dirty little secret', Bride left upset on her wedding day as two guests show up in white, Mum and daughter constantly mistaken for sisters despite age gap, Mum prepares second meal for husband after he refuses to eat dinner she made, Woman admits she doesn't text male friends unless she's in group chat with her husband, Woman left torn after catching neighbour cheating on her husband of 10 years, Woman who hasn't shaved for years says her boyfriend loves her hairy body, Woman, 23, with 13-year-old daughter says she's not taken seriously as a parent. Rescuers believe that John initially tried to wiggle himself free, but only wedged himself further into the space. Its not that I believe because its the only thing that gets me through. or superseded by additional information. Nutty Putty is a hydrothermal cave known for its tight twists and crawl spaces; management hasoccasionally closed this caveoff to the public due to its dangerous conditions. He didnt even have room to wriggle back out the way hed come. While alone, John passes out again due to his upside down position. Rescuers tied John with a rope connected to a series of pulleys. John Jones began to explore the "Birth Canal" section, however something went wrong and he ended up in another area, "Bob's Push", 100 feet below the surface of the cave. Its never been hard to remember John. Chadwick Hopson as John Jones, a medical student who gets stuck in an 18-inch wide hole in Nutty Putty Cave. PROVO, Utah - For many people, the images of rescuers and ropes standing above a small hole in the ground is what they remember of Nutty Putty Cave. This is the passage that John Jones thought he had found when he got stuck. 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. She read a friends blog about finding a blessing in terrible things. The simple geometry looked impossible. When he reached the corkscrew, he got stuck himself. Twenty minutes passed before the beam of her headlamp fell upon a pair of navy-and-black running shoes sticking out of a narrow crevice at the tunnels end. It was their first time in Nutty Putty and a throwback to childhood family caving outings. Ultimately the decision was made that it was too much risk for the rescuers to remain there in an effort to get him out and the decision was made to leave him in place.. No, it ended shortly after the crack where John was stuck. He brought a water pouch filled with Gatorade and stretched the attached tube down to John so he could drink. Eventually, he had come home to Utah with his wife Emily and 13-months-old daughter for the Thanksgiving holiday and to share the good news that another baby is expected next June. 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. While wriggling forward through one particularly tight passageway in a far reach of the cave, Jones became stuck. Josh Powell was, at the least, aware of the cave. 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. She knew Nutty Putty, and she could go where others couldnt. John, look up at me, Ryan said. In his weakened state, the shock could kill him. When the pulley system was ?nished, it was 4 p.m. on Nov. 25, and John had been trapped for 19 hours. His family thanked rescuers for their help even despite the horrible news. Or is it another man Im genuinely confused I swear John past away. Emily couldnt understand how they could know John was dead -- they hadnt found a pulse on his legs for hours. Father, just get me out of here. Ryan would then try to shift John from the 8 1/2 inch wide side of the crevice where he was stuck, moving him to the slightly wider side of the fissure. So instead, Johns younger brother, Josh Jones, called her. He. I just imagined him being really tired and scared.. Save me for my wife and kids, John said. Theyre both irrepressible outdoors lovers, and now Susie gets an invitation when Josh gathers a group to go camping, mountain biking or kayaking. Today Emily is married to Donovan Sanchez, with whom she had another child. All Rights Reserved, Nutty Putty Cave accident victims widow: I know there is life after death, John Jones died in a cave, but his widow emerged from the darkness, The Last Descent tells the emotional story of John Jones 7 years after Nutty Putty Cave death, Man trapped in Utah Countys Nutty Putty cave dies. While he waited for a drill to make a new pulley hole, Dave tried to wrap a rope around Johns waist. He could watch his babys birth, his daughter grow up. He had to try to press forward. Thanksgiving dinner was an Ensure shake through a straw. Unfortunately, John's position made it challenging forlarge equipment toget near him. John went into "Bob's Push" headfirst, but his body was too big to make its way through the opening. Her new acquaintances typically tell her they remember hearing her story. On 24 November, 2009, John Edward Jones . John's position in the cave was problematic from the outset. Josh, at John's behest, reluctantly leaves him to go get help. With Christian Slater, Amanda Peet, Rachel Keller, Michael Rispoli. 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. ", Once it was clear that Jones couldn't escape on his own or with help of his fellow cavers, authorities became involved. It had been years since John was in any cave. Everything was ready, and they pulled as hard as they could. And while time has passed and they lead a happy life together, Emily and Donovan have also retained Johns memory. "There is incredible hope out there for us. His body was in bent position, and there was a lip of rock that "basically captured the center part of his body. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Id gone in it, in the front, and kind of said, Thats it, thats enough.'. 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. supports HTML5 video, Estimated read time: 5-6 The wife of a man who died the 'worst possible death' has spoken out against the trolling her family have continued to receive 13 years on. 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. He couldnt twist through a rocky corkscrew that led out of the tunnel. The plan was, rescuers thought, their last, best hope: John was beginning to lose touch with reality in the darkness. They imagine what they wouldve done and how they wouldve felt had they been placed in her position. The two talked about their missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spoke Spanish together -- Ryan had served a Spanish-speaking mission in Texas, John in Ecuador. 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. John hadnt gone into a cave in years when the two brothers met for Thanksgiving at their parents Stansbury Park home. 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. Susie had been moving into a new house, but dropped everything when her rescue pager went off just after 9 p.m. She drove her Toyota 4Runner, purchased with an eye toward rescues, around the southern end of Utah Lake and down the long, dark dirt road leading to the cave. And Johns body lifted out of the crevice. She could hear that his lungs were filling with fluid. A soft-spoken man, Hodgson says he doesnt usually make a promise he cant keep. Jones died after being trapped for over 24 hours. She is the mother of Lizzie (7) and John (6), as well as Emerson (2). The group entered the cave around 8 p.m. and explored a large chamber called the Big Slide before John and Josh broke off with two friends to find a challenge: a tight but navigable passage called the Birth Canal. Jones-Sanchez gives her husband a great deal of the credit for this. loosing someone is hard enough and going through a pregnancy on ur own having to look at those kids everyday knowing what happened to their dad. Although the 26-year-old father of one hadn't been to this particular cave, he was confident in his abilities . John was by then attending medical school in Virginia, where he lived. I knew I couldnt do anything to help, but I really wanted to give him a hug when he got out, Emily said. Now. 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. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. As he takes the baby from his cradle and exits the cave, the boy is born at a hospital and is placed into Emily's arms, who happily announces that she has named him after John. Emily wanted to serve a church mission and had been called to Madagascar. 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. His arms were now pinned beneath his chest and he couldnt move at all. It sucks; Im upside down. A radio is lowered into the cave and John is able to speak with Emily, who reveals she is pregnant. He still continued to date her, amid rising tensions between her and his family. Explorer Kory Kowallis in the crawl to the aptly named Scout Trap passage in Nutty Putty Cave. Then, its owners sealed the cave with Jones body inside to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. Some time later, John suddenly awakens, and to his surprise, has the strength to push himself out of the hole. John loves the outdoors; he loves Utah; he loves wide open space, said Emily. After the pulley system failed, rescuers started to rig up a secondrope and pulley mechanism to help him. Hed crawled through the tunnel and seen John swallowed by the rock. He was actually beyond that in an unnamed, really unexplored part of the cave.. He found what he thought was the Birth Canal and inched his way into the narrow passage head first, moving forward using his hips, stomach, and fingers. The Utah County Sheriffs Office set up a command center and rescue leaders ran through idea after idea. The probability of Susan Powell or anybody else being placed in Nutty Putty Cave after John Jones died inside Nutty Putty Cave is zero, Cannon said. The team pulled, but didnt have enough power to move John: The friction of the rope rubbing stone was too strong. Over the next 24 hours, more than 100 rescue personnel worked feverishly to free John Edward Jones from the depths of Nutty Putty Cave. After his death, she went home to Salem, Va. She lives with her parents now and is applying to graduate schools. 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. Its so fitting that its his spot now.. She was terrified of leaving. She stretched a water bottle down to his right arm, the one forced backward, so he could tip the bottle forward.
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