Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Utah Cave to Be Sealed with Man's Body Inside

Recovering body from Nutty Putty cave too dangerous

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 27, 2009 10:47 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – The cave where a spelunker died this week is to be permanently sealed off with his body inside, officials say. John Jones, a 26-year-old med student, died after being stuck in Utah's Nutty Putty cave for 28 hours and police say it will be too dangerous to recover his body. "If we put other people in that same location, they could get stuck or get hurt," a search and rescue coordinator tells AP.

"We feel like it would be John's will to protect the safety of future cavers," his younger brother said. The family plans to erect a permanent memorial at the site and is considering starting a fund to educate young people on cave safety. The cave, which was popular with amateur cavers but had never been fully mapped, will be guarded by police until it can be properly sealed.

John Jones, 26, died leaving a pregnant wife and young daughter.
John Jones, 26, died leaving a pregnant wife and young daughter.   (Jones family)
An unidentified rescuer is seen during the effort to free Jones from the cave.
An unidentified rescuer is seen during the effort to free Jones from the cave.   (Utah County Sheriff's Office)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We've suffered a tragedy in this cave that we hope to prevent from happening again. - Sgt. Tom Hodgson, coordinator for Utah County's search and rescue operations.

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
krymsonkyng
Dec 1, 2009 12:20 PM CST
I wouldn't mind going down doing something I enjoyed. Just hope I could enjoy it to the end. Sounds like he didn't get that luxury. Poor bloke. R.I.P.
grassisntgreener
Nov 29, 2009 6:21 AM CST
A tragedy indeed,however people did all they could to help,the mission failed,and now someone would question their qualifications?Heros are people that TRY to help,the results differ with each attempt! What a sad ending.
Spydiggity
Nov 29, 2009 1:06 AM CST
i'm not putting animals before people, PC guy. i'm saying the animals are using it for survival purposes. people are using it for recreation purposes. if they get trapped in there or die, that sucks, but it's not the cave's fault. i suppose you think we should also burn down rain forests because ppl die there every year. we should also kill every person with aids because there's a chance someone else might have sex with them and contract it. the question really is...where do you draw the line? i am thinking it through. i'm saying don't fuck with nature because a person or people don't know their limits. it's a shame he died, but the cave and everything else about it shouldn't suffer as a result of this.
US

 
Utah • caving • spelunking • John Jones • Nutty Putty cave

More Newser Stories

Caver Who Died Stayed in 'Good Spirits'

Utah Caver Stuck Upside-Down Dies
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne