She took Lizzie and drove to the cave with Johns parents. It usually does come up, she says. Before John died, shed heard about people who felt closer to God after a tragedy and wondered if their faith was truly stronger or if it was all they had left. The Last Descent of John Jones. Disaster at Nutty Putty Alexis "Lexy" Johnson as Emily Jones, John's wife. He had come back home to Utah to spend some relaxing holiday time with his family. Or is it another man Im genuinely confused I swear John passed away. He still continued to date her, amid rising tensions between her and his family. John hadn't gone into a cave in years when the two brothers met for Thanksgiving at their parents' Stansbury Park home. But she couldnt imagine anything good coming from Johns death. John left behind his wife, Emily Jones Sanchez,. The plan was, rescuers thought, their last, best hope: John was beginning to lose touch with reality in the darkness. The best plan they had was to use a system of pulleys and ropes to try to free John from his perilously tight spot. 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. Tears streamed down the rescuer s face as Emily shouted to John from the chaotic surface to the musty, cramped tunnel. What did they mean, they couldnt get his body out? Emily Jones-Sanchez is photographed with her husband, Donovan, and children, Lizzie, John and Emerson. It breaks my heart how easily people focus on happiness in this earthly life instead of holding on and wait to be re-united.". Against the sheer impossibility of it all, John might get out. John, Im bleeding, Ive got to get out, but its OK. Everythings OK. RIP JOHN IF I WAS YOUR WIFE I WOULD HAVE NEVER MOVED ON SOO SOON AND WOULD BE SHARING YOUR STORY AND LIFE. He picked up the phone to tell the family his teams wouldnt be able to get Johns body out of the cave. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's, Cold: US Marshal shares insider account of Susan Powell investigation, Top stories of 2009, No. The rescuers worked through Tuesday night and into the day on Wednesday attempting to free Jones. He was born January 21, 1983 in Sandy, Utah. "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. Theyd been through rescues where, despite all efforts, the victim died. Seeing his feet and seeing how swallowed he was by the rock, thats when I knew it was serious. Josh said. Aaron climbs down and finds John, whose condition is starting to deteriorate. minutes. Motola introduced herself to John, even though all she could see of him was a pair of navy and black running shoes. One social media user wrote beneath a post Emily shared in March 2020: "JOHN WAS BETTER ! She couldnt hear her group. Closest to John, the rope went through a natural arch in the wall just above the crack where he was trapped. He left behind his wife, who was pregnant, and another child. Ryan tried to ready John for what was about to happen. The first rescue person to arrive was a volunteer named Susie Motola. Aaron continues to talk to John, occasionally feeding him Gatorade to keep him hydrated. A radio is lowered into the cave and John is able to speak with Emily, who reveals she is pregnant. It breaks my heart how easily people focus on happiness in this earthly life instead of holding on and wait to be re-united.". It's a story many people remember because of the tragic way in which he died. "I think when people come away from this movie they will have a greater desire to love people, to love their family, to love better, to be kinder, to be a better person, and to cherish every minute they have with their loved ones," Emily says. According to the Deseret News, Jones had entered the caves Tuesday with a group of 11 others, but decided to explore a different route. 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. Inside the tunnel, Susie tried every thing she could think of to free John. He brought a water pouch filled with Gatorade and stretched the attached tube down to John so he could drink. Hi Susie, thanks for coming, John said, but I really, really want to get out.. After his death, she went home to Salem, Va. She lives with her parents now and is applying to graduate schools. Formerly popular with cavers and known for its narrow passageways, Nutty Putty has been closed to the public since 2009 following a fatal accident that year. John asked if her faith was strong whether she planned to be married in a temple. John oscillated between calm, coherent conversation to helplessly thrashing his legs in sheer panic. If the friction was still too great, theyd add another pulley. Ive often thought that John is busy doing important things and growing in important ways and living a great life so I need to continue living my life, too. 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. His head pointed downward at an angle of 70 to 80 degrees. John Jones and his fellow spelunkers, including his brother Josh,had experience with caving, though this was John's first time at Nutty Putty. He rubbed Johns leg. But suddenly, and without warning, one of the pulleys failed. They talked about Joshs girlfriend, whether he should follow John into medical school. She knew she loved John as a 20-year-old Brigham Young University student, but marriage seemed like a lot of work, and not that much fun, she said with a smile. Back at the pit, the eight people pulling the rope crashed to the ground when it went slack. Relationships go on after this life.". But he knew what the cave could do. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax [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. But those moments were why she became a caver. Ryan said he knew John would still be with her. so just maybe he sent someone to help her get through it its not easy to go through life on a good day so give it up i hope she is every bit happy and blessed and the same to her beautiful children. Josh stayed with his brother until rescuers arrived. Leon Jones worked his way out, but the story entered the pantheon of family lore. Instead, Brandon Kowallis, another member of Utah Cave Rescue whod just arrived at Nutty Putty Cave, crawled into the tunnel to take his place. It was November 24, 2009, a few days before Thanksgiving. This unmapped passage of Utah Countys Nutty Putty Cave was no wider than the opening of a washing machine, and Susie had ropes tied around her ankles so other rescuers could pull her out if she got stuck. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. In the wake of Jones death, the Utah County Sheriff floated the idea of permanently sealing the cave. Hours later, he is woken by Susie, a rescue worker. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. 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. John Edward Jones - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki Another showed John Edward Jones, a man who died in the cave less than two weeks before Susan Powell disappeared. Wife of man who died the 'worst possible death' still trolled 13 years on At the age of 26, he was studying medicine at the University of Virginia. I love you! Then his feet hit the low ceiling. Rescuers tied John with a rope connected to a series of pulleys. The Nutty Putty Cave: Everything You Should Know As he goes deeper into the cave, he gets stuck in a small passageway. The human body is designed to walk upright, and the heart works with the force of gravity not against it. 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. The two Boy Scouts had become trapped within a week of each other. Hi, Susie, thanks for coming, but I really, really want to get out, said 26-year-old John Jones. I used to be so afraid of tight, enclosed spaces and the dark, she said. This one is very tender still. But they quickly determined neither would work. Explorer Emily Vinton Maughen at the entrance of Nutty Putty Cave. The cave would be his final resting place. Its never been hard to talk about John, she said. While alone, John passes out again due to his upside down position. He would be hurt badly, but he could hug Emily. He looked fine. Thet rip, after all, had been his idea. One of the bolts anchoring the pulleys broke, and John was back into his initial position. As he tries to go back and free himself, he falls into an even smaller hole and passes out. "This in not the end of life. Juliane Cunha Her new acquaintances typically tell her they remember hearing her story. The Last Descent - Official Trailer | IMDb I reviewed the whole mission, wishing wed have done this tiny detail differently or done that a little sooner. The two talked, prayed, and sang hymns until help was on the way. No, it ended shortly after the crack where John was stuck. [3], The film had a limited release but received generally positive reviews, with praise for its direction, acting and cinematography, but received some criticism for its tone and pacing. Just wondering, when you die and go to heaven, who will you be with? The first rescuer to reach John was a woman named Susie Motola, who arrived at about 12:30 AM on November 25. 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. Save me for my wife and kids, John said. But then John slid down into the passage even further, becoming trapped worse than before. During the evening of November 24,2009, John Jones and a group of fellowcave explorers entered Nutty Putty Cave located near Salt Lake City, UT. He was stuck for over 25 hours, and because of the pressure his body was under and the position he was in, sadly couldn't be safely rescued. While exploring the cave, Jones got wedged in a small opening and was unable to free himself. We were aware that it would be really challenging to have to open back up that part of our lives and also expose our family to the public eye and criticism and the painful experiences, rehashing everything, Jones-Sanchez said. State Senator John Valentine, a rescue worker with about 30 years' worthof experience, called the rescue "very agonizing." Susie didnt go to the traumatic stress debriefing for the search-and-rescue teams -- she had to get back to her job at an Orem nursery. He was exhausted. 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. They told us that John got stuck about 8:45 p.m. We got the notification sometime I believe just before 9:30, Cannon said. Despite some nasty comments, others have been quick to defend Emily and her family. bodies of climbers left behind on Mount Everest. Life goes on. So instead, Johns younger brother, Josh Jones, called her. Having a film made about it. Heres a look at three of them that have inspired me recently. John was by then attending medical school in Virginia, where he lived. 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. While he waited for a drill to make a new pulley hole, Dave tried to wrap a rope around Johns waist. Yet spelunkers of all ages are always keen to navigate the crevice, and Jones was no exception. John went into the cave on Nov. 24, 2009 with 10 other friends and family members on an excursion organized by his brother, Josh. But when John inhaled again and his chest puffed back out, he got stuck for good. 'Cold&': Theory of Susan Powell in Nutty Putty Cave debunked. Soon another rescuer, Aaron is brought to the scene. If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677. Nutty Putty Cave is a naturally-formed thermal cave located on the west side of Utah Lake, 55 miles from Salt Lake City in Utah. Well, when we get you out of here, Ill be your workout buddy, he said. Many of the passages in this cave are this narrow or even narrower. I cant tell you how many people came up to me and said, Nobody knows this but weve been really struggling in our marriage, Jones-Sanchez said. He couldnt push himself up. Hows it going?. He filled an area at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City with rose petals and shooed out all the other visitors, then played guitar and sang her a song hed written. Jacob Omer as Josh Jones, John's brother. Then John fell silent, and his breathing slowed. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a She could hear that his lungs were filling with fluid. Under the pressure of Johns body and the crews pulling, the stone arch had shattered and the rope tied around it had broken, sending a heavy metal carabiner straight at Ryans face. They pulled again. She said yes, but she had fallen away from church teachings somewhat in recent years. When a second person got stuck at Nutty Putty less than a week later, state officials closed the cave. A soft-spoken man, Hodgson says he doesnt usually make a promise he cant keep. I think hes really hurt bad.. Now at the age of 26, John was in the prime of his life, who was married and was attending medical school in Virginia at the same time. John wakes up upside down in an 18-inch wide hole and realizes he is completely stuck. Once John had been declared dead, there were discussions about how do we get him out? There were some rather distasteful discussions as well, things that nobody really wanted to do, Cannon said. He was stuck in the tunnel for over 25 hours, but because of the pressure his body felt and the position he was stuck in, he tragically could not be safely rescued. Horrifying death of man who made grave error in dangerous cave dubbed The Utah County Sheriffs Office set up a command center and rescue leaders ran through idea after idea. After each new cam, theyd try the system again. John inched upward. Emily approves because of John's enthusiasm and he and Josh go to explore the cave. When Ryan reached John, he loosened the knots earlier rescuers had tied around his legs. With fluids pooling dangerously in his head and lungs, the shock of the injury could kill him. She helped string a rope from John back to the rest of the team in an open pit at the tunnels entrance. She is the mother of Lizzie (7) and John (6), as well as Emerson (2). Explorer Kory Kowallis in the crawl to the aptly named Scout Trap passage in Nutty Putty Cave. He served a mission for The. She was carried down the aisle by John's father. She joked that she would have a story to tell his wife and asked if hed like to get some pancakes when they got him out. "You may not agree with her choices but you dont pay her bills feed her kids or now her grass john loved her and she loved him. His life was in that cave, in that little crack.. John told Ryan about his wife, Emily, about their life together in Virginia, about their 1-year-old daughter, and his child on the way. The team pulled, but didnt have enough power to move John: The friction of the rope rubbing stone was too strong. What's behind shortages of Adderall, Ozempic and other meds? Just keep fighting! Emily s voice crackled through the box. The drilling is finished and the attempt to pull John out commences. Josh tried to pull at his brothers calves to no avail. They worked through their grief together, building a healing friendship. Where Utah high school and college football players signed after 2023 NFL draft, Utah man, 70, survives cougar attack while on a solo hike, Biden attacks news outlets for 'lies of conspiracy and malice', Retiring coal-fired power plants need a replacement. He could watch his babys birth, his daughter grow up. They had to push the cams through a thick layer of powdery calcite that coated the cave walls, then string the rope through the attached pulley. They are picked up by John's brother Josh, who tells him that the Nutty Putty Cave has been opened after having been closed before. I know youve been pushing so hard for so long. Why did the family of the LDS student who died in Nutty Putty caves decide to let his death and story be shared with millions around the world? He wanted to find a tight passage. John Jones died in Nutty Putty Cave Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. As families, we know that we will be happy and that we will be together as a family again, with John.". Its so fitting that its his spot now.. Wife of man who died the 'worst possible death' still trolled 13 years on In the years following Jones's death, researchers haveinitiatedefforts to better understand caving injuries and deaths to make spelunking safer. Jyllian Petrie as Susie, one of the rescue workers, also a composite character. 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. When rescuers told trauma physician Doug Murdock that John was nearly upside down, he knew the trapped man didnt have much time. She couldnt fully extend her arms and legs, but she was confident. After those rescues in 2004, the Nutty Putty Cave was closed to the public. So they agreed. ", If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677, Featured Image Credit: Jones Family Handout, Topics:Mental Health, US News, Social Media, Facebook, Ed Sheeran wrote seven tracks in four hours after wife Cherry's cancer diagnosis, Sky commentator Martin Tyler accused of 'racist' comment about Tottenhams Son Heung-min, Gordon Ramsay pays tribute to MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo after his sudden death, MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo has died at the age of 46, Netflix confirms Top Boy final season release date and drops trailer, Mermaid statue with 'big bum' criticised for being 'too sexual', Australian Who Woke From Surgery With Irish Accent Still Hasn't Lost It One Year On, Paddy The Baddy Leaves O2 In Tears After Dedicating Fight Win To Friend Who Died On Friday, Tributes paid to woman killed by Great white shark as family watched on, Family Sues Meta After Blaming Instagram For Daughter's Eating Disorder. Uniformed deputies remained at the opening of the cave 24-hours a day from the night of Jones death until Nutty Puttys permanent closure the following week. John had been exploring the cave with his brother but got stuck in a narrow tunnel. Each persons grief is as unique and personal as their life, but weve compiled a few suggestions that we hope can help you as you comfort the ones you love.