In November 2009, John Edward Jones, a medical student and avid caver, went on a spelunking trip with his brother and friends to the Nutty Putty Cave in Utah. Despite its reputation as a beginner’s cave, the narrow and winding passages had led to several rescue missions in the past, and there were concerns about safety.

John and his brother Josh ventured into a particularly challenging area of the cave known as “The Birth Canal,” a narrow passage that led to a larger cavern. However, they took a wrong turn and ended up in an unmapped part of the cave. While exploring, John came across a narrow fissure in the rock, which he thought would open into a larger area. As he squeezed through, he became stuck upside down in a space just 10 by 18 inches, smaller than a front-loading washing machine.

Josh found his brother in the impossible position, with only his feet visible. After trying unsuccessfully to free John, Josh went for help, and soon a rescue team arrived. Despite efforts to reassure John, the rescuers quickly realized that the narrow, tight space and awkward position made it impossible to free him without specialized equipment.

The rescue team, which included local volunteers and emergency services, struggled for hours to devise a plan. They lubed the walls, drilled through the rock, and eventually used a complex system of ropes and pulleys to attempt to pull John to safety. Unfortunately, after over 28 hours of failed attempts and escalating efforts, John’s body was eventually discovered, and the rescue mission ended in tragedy. Despite the valiant efforts to save him, John remained stuck in the crevice, becoming the cave’s final victim.

The Nutty Putty Cave became permanently closed after the incident, serving as a reminder of the inherent dangers of spelunking and the challenges that rescuers face in such extreme conditions.