Nutty Putty Cave was closed permanently following the tragic death of John Jones in 2009
Two men went and visited the haunting site where a man suffered the ‘worst death imaginable’.
YouTube family Legacy Crawlers travelled to Nutty Putty Cave in Utah, US, to see what it looks like today following the 2009 tragedy.
In that year, spelunker John Edward Jones ventured inside the cave with his brother Josh to an area dubbed the ‘birth canal’.
John Edward Jones visited the cave with his brother in 2009 (Family handout)
The 26-year-old medical student – who was with three others – went off with Josh to witness a tight passageway with a turnaround at the end.
But because part of the cave was still unmapped, Jones went through the wrong entrance.
His failed attempt at getting through the ‘birth canal’ meant he was stuck in a horrific upside down position.
The ‘L-shaped pinpoint’ was just 10 inches across and 18 inches high.
Unfortunately, each time Jones breathed and his chest expanded, it further wedged him inside the tight space, with no chance of escaping.
Meanwhile, Josh had little choice but to leave him behind and crawl to the surface to call for help.
He was stuck in this position (Reddit)
In a 2023 video, Legacy Crawlers explained: “Unfortunately, on November 24th 2009 a man named John Edwards Jones became stuck and subsequently died after being trapped for about 28 hours.
“Jones, crawling head first, took a wrong turn and became wedged upside down.
“A large team of rescuers came to assist with the sophisticated ropes and poce system but the system failed.
“Jones ultimately suffered a heart attack due to the strain put on his body from being inverted.
“It was determined that Jones’s body was unable to be retrieved. The land owners and Jones’s family agreed that the cave would be permanently closed, sealing his body.
There’s now a memorial plaque at the site. (Legacy Crawlers/YouTube)
“Inside, explosives were used to collapse the cave and the entrance was then
sealed off by concrete.”
While visiting the harrowing site, the group found a poignant tribute to Jones: “Today, the cave is marked by a plaque to memorialise John Edwards Jones.”
Jones’ wife, Emily Jones Sanchez, who was pregnant at the time of his death, told Desert News: “I can say that I know for sure, without a doubt, I know there is life after death.
“I know John is still alive.
“I know because I’ve been able to talk to him since he died, and I’ve had several experiences where the veil has been thin, and I’ve had these sacred moments where I don’t understand everything and my faith is not perfect, but I know he’s out there, and I know there’s life after death.”
A film based on Jones’ story was made in 2016, titled The Last Descent, starring Chadwick Hopson Jones as John, alongside Jacob Omer as Josh.
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Legacy Crawlers/Family handout
