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Caver Who Died Stayed in 'Good Spirits'

Nutty Putty crevice was the site of successful rescues in 2004

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 27, 2009 11:25 AM CST
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(Newser) – The spelunker who died after being stuck upside-down in a Utah cave for 28 hours became wedged in exactly the same spot where two others had gotten stuck in recent years. In those cases, both in 2004, rescuers saved the trapped explorers. "Caving isn't generally considered to be a dangerous sport," said a sheriff's official. "But I think you can safely say this is a dangerous spot in that cave."

Its history will play a role in determining whether the Nutty Putty cave ever reopens to cavers. The 26-year-old medical student who died, John Jones, had plenty of experience, his family said: "He had explored many caves and maneuvered his way through many tight spaces before." Rescuers, who nearly had him freed at one point, commended him for "his remarkable good spirits and resilience to the end," reports the AP.

John Jones holding his daughter.
John Jones holding his daughter.   (AP Photo)
A volunteer rescuer during a rescue effort in Nutty Putty Cave, near Elberta, Utah. John Jones, 26, of Stansbury Park, died Thursday nearly 28 hours after he became stuck.
A volunteer rescuer during a rescue effort in Nutty Putty Cave, near Elberta, Utah. John Jones, 26, of Stansbury Park, died Thursday nearly 28 hours after he became stuck.   (AP Photo)
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It's a tough (thing). It's not very often where you come in, you have high hopes and you are going into an operation you have done before with success and then you get into a situation where it doesn't go as you planned. - Sgt. Spencer Cannon

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
riffran
Nov 28, 2009 7:06 AM CST
how sad..my condolenes to the family
hubydane
Nov 28, 2009 6:06 AM CST
You brought your whole point to...moot. Your last sentence justifies this story being tragic. He didn't go in there thinking "Oh, let's get stuck in this hole and die!" By your reason, no soldiers' deaths can be considered tragic, either. Try debating that.
youngblood
Nov 28, 2009 2:41 AM CST
@David, it's relative, I'm sure to his family, it's tragic that he was being freed and then the equipment failed and he died and to the story of their 5 year old girl getting raped and murdered is also tragicand I don't think it was stupid that he was engaged in a dangerous sport, he was living his life. Some people might say driving a car is dangerous, but you're just living your life. R.I.P. John
US • Science

 
Utah • caves • search and rescue • caving • spelunking • John Jones

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