UTAH COUNTY -
A Stansbury Park man trapped in the infamous Nutty Putty Cave has died, a heartbreaking end to a desperate scramble to free him.
John Edward Jones, 26, was reported dead about midnight, the Utah County Sheriff's Office said. He had been trapped in the cave more than 27 hours since becoming wedged deep inside, about 150 feet underground.
Search and rescue teams had been able to free Jones somewhat, and were making progress in their efforts to remove him from the cave when some rope equipment failed, sending him sliding back to where he was when he started -- upside down. Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said Jones died as efforts to extricate him were ongoing.
"As the rescue operation continued it became apparent to rescuers inside the cave, who were able to communicate with Jones, that his condition was deteriorating. They were still unable to extricate him and Jones lapsed into a state of unconsciousness," Cannon said in an e-mail to Fox 13 News on Thursday. "Due to the tightly confined circumstances rescuers were unable to assess or provide treatment to Jones. Shortly before midnight on November 25 rescuers were able to get close enough to Jones to assess him and determined that he was not breathing and he had no pulse."
It is unknown what specifically caused Jones' death, Cannon said. His body remains wedged in the cave and may be there for some time, authorities told Fox 13 News.
A memorial service for Jones is planned for Saturday in Stansbury Park. He had a wife and 8-month-old daughter, family members said. They were expected to address reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that Jones became stuck in a feature inside the cave known as "Bob's Push." It's an area about 18-inches wide and about 10-inches high, about 150 feet below ground and 700-feet from the cave's entrance.
"Jones was positioned with his head down hill and was unable to move further into the cave. He was also unable to move back up the Bob's Push area," Cannon said.
Jones was with a group of 11 people who decided to explore the cave, entering around 6 p.m. on Nov. 24. Fox 13's Arikka Von reported late Wednesday that Jones was able to speak with his wife via radio earlier in the evening as rescue efforts continued.
Rescue teams from all over the state, as well as the Timpanogos Grotto and Utah Caving Association assisted in the rescue operation. In a posting on a website for the Timp Grotto, which manages the cave, it said the cave had been "closed" until further notice.
"Due to the tragic caving death on November 24, 2009, all caving in the cave is prohibited," said a posting nuttyputtycave.com, which added that no reservations would be taken.
The cave is owned by the state of Utah's School Institutional Trust Lands Administration.
Fox 13 News will have the latest on this developing story on the news at 5 and 9.
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John Edward Jones, 26, was reported dead about midnight, the Utah County Sheriff's Office said. He had been trapped in the cave more than 27 hours since becoming wedged deep inside, about 150 feet underground.
Search and rescue teams had been able to free Jones somewhat, and were making progress in their efforts to remove him from the cave when some rope equipment failed, sending him sliding back to where he was when he started -- upside down. Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said Jones died as efforts to extricate him were ongoing.
"As the rescue operation continued it became apparent to rescuers inside the cave, who were able to communicate with Jones, that his condition was deteriorating. They were still unable to extricate him and Jones lapsed into a state of unconsciousness," Cannon said in an e-mail to Fox 13 News on Thursday. "Due to the tightly confined circumstances rescuers were unable to assess or provide treatment to Jones. Shortly before midnight on November 25 rescuers were able to get close enough to Jones to assess him and determined that he was not breathing and he had no pulse."
It is unknown what specifically caused Jones' death, Cannon said. His body remains wedged in the cave and may be there for some time, authorities told Fox 13 News.
A memorial service for Jones is planned for Saturday in Stansbury Park. He had a wife and 8-month-old daughter, family members said. They were expected to address reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that Jones became stuck in a feature inside the cave known as "Bob's Push." It's an area about 18-inches wide and about 10-inches high, about 150 feet below ground and 700-feet from the cave's entrance.
"Jones was positioned with his head down hill and was unable to move further into the cave. He was also unable to move back up the Bob's Push area," Cannon said.
Jones was with a group of 11 people who decided to explore the cave, entering around 6 p.m. on Nov. 24. Fox 13's Arikka Von reported late Wednesday that Jones was able to speak with his wife via radio earlier in the evening as rescue efforts continued.
Rescue teams from all over the state, as well as the Timpanogos Grotto and Utah Caving Association assisted in the rescue operation. In a posting on a website for the Timp Grotto, which manages the cave, it said the cave had been "closed" until further notice.
"Due to the tragic caving death on November 24, 2009, all caving in the cave is prohibited," said a posting nuttyputtycave.com, which added that no reservations would be taken.
The cave is owned by the state of Utah's School Institutional Trust Lands Administration.
Fox 13 News will have the latest on this developing story on the news at 5 and 9.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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