Harrowing final phrases of man who suffered ‘worst ever’ loss of life revealed
John Edward Jones sadly passed away after he became trapped inside the Nutty Putty cave in Utah in 2009, his final words were heartbreaking
The final words of a man who suffered an unimaginably horrific death have finally been disclosed.
John Edward Jones, 26, embarked on a trip to Utah’s Nutty Putty cave in 2009 with his brother and friends, where he “essentially crawled into his own grave.”
The Nutty Putty cave system, known for its tight and twisting passages, was a favourite among cavers and thrill-seekers like John, attracting thousands of visitors each year. However, when John visited the cave system in November 2009, he had no idea it would be his last adventure.
Despite being considered a ‘beginner cave’, different sections were categorised by varying difficulty levels. Upon arriving at Nutty Putty, John and his brother Josh chose to explore a part of the cave known as ‘The Birth Canal’.
This challenging route featured a long, narrow passage leading to a larger area. Unfortunately, John mistook an uncharted section of the cave for the entrance to the ‘birth canal’.
Tragically, this error led to him becoming stuck upside down in a tiny passage measuring only 10 by 18 inches. Despite his brother’s efforts to free him, he remained trapped, and Josh ran back to alert volunteers and professionals.
Local hero and rescue volunteer Susie was the first to arrive at the distressing scene of John trapped in a tunnel, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune. To reach him, Susie expertly tied ropes around her feet and edged her way down to the stricken man.
Three hours into his ordeal, John’s spirits momentarily lifted upon seeing Susie, “Hi Susie, thanks for coming but I really, really want to get out,” he exclaimed, grateful yet desperate for freedom. Panic soon set in, with John heartbreakingly said: “I’m going to die right here. I’m not going to come out of here, am I?”
As time ticked on, a collaborative team of emergency services crafted a plan to extract John using a specialised system of ropes and pulleys. Volunteers regularly checked on his condition during the harrowing wait; his frustration evident as he lamented, “It sucks. I’m upside down. I can’t believe I’m upside down. My legs are killing me.”
A heart-stopping moment occurred when a pulley malfunctioned amidst the rescue effort.
Remarkably, despite his dire situation, John showed concern for an injured volunteer, “Is he OK? I think he’s really hurt bad,” he worriedly inquired.
After the volunteer was trapped in a cave, his physical condition deteriorated rapidly due to the stress of confinement. Tragically, he was declared dead, and despite efforts, his body could not be retrieved; the cave had to be sealed off with him inside.
Those involved in the rescue had to make tough decisions on how to move forward. After discussions with John’s family and the landowner, it was deemed too risky to attempt to recover his body.
As a result, the cave was permanently closed, with explosives used to collapse part of it near where John lay, and the entrance was filled with concrete to prevent future incidents.
In 2016, “The Last Descent” was released, a film honouring John’s life, supported by his family who said, according to LadBible: “John will always be remembered for his genuine love of his family and friends, passion for adventure, goofy sense of humour and unwavering faith. The heroic acts of the men and woman who worked tirelessly to free him will never be forgotten.
“We hope those who view the movie are inspired to live and love selflessly, and are comforted knowing that hope can be found in the wake of tragedy.”
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