Moderator: Tim White
graveleye wrote:well I guess that's the end of the story for now. It's closed and folks in that area might as well find another cave to go to.
The thing about closing a cave is that it can sometimes put more pressure on surrounding caves.
Ralph we couldn't be more grateful to them. You are welcome to post as you see fit.
Regards,
Jeff Petersen
To our dear Singles Ward family,
We want to thank you for your love and support following the death of our son-in-law, John Jones. The power of your prayers has definitely been felt here. We were horrified to hear on Thanksgiving morning that John's caving accident had been fatal, and stunned to consider how life changing it would be for Emily as she becomes the single parent/bread winner. Yet through it all, there has been a peace that all is in the Lord's hands. We have felt that deeply.
We thank you for the heart-warming kindnesses you have shown us. We felt so loved as we returned home and found the leaves cleaned up in our front and back yards, lawn mowed, food in the refrigerator, a crib and toys laid out for Lizzie, and the inside of our house straightened up (it was a mess, having dropped everything to fly to Utah when we learned of John's death). Thank you. We love you too.
We haven't been very quick about answering your emails or posting on facebook. We're including a journal entry here fyi.
Love,
Bishop and Momma Pete
We first got word that John was stuck in a cave Wednesday afternoon, November 25th. John and Emily had flown out to Utah where John’s entire family was gathering for Thanksgiving. John’s brother planned the activity to explore Nutty Putty Cave, inside Blow Hole Hill. Eleven brothers and friends ventured into the limestone hill having obtained the required permit.
The explorers left Salt Lake around 6 PM arriving at the cave after dark Tuesday night. They found the narrow tunnels through the cave made of limestone and obsidian to be highly polished from the water and 6,000 visitors that come to the cave every year. The group hadn’t been there very long before John entered an unmapped section of the cave, about 400 feet in. He had come to a dead end. He was attempting to back out of the tight spot when his hand slipped and he plummeted headfirst with arms extended to catch himself into a five-foot deep narrow tube about 12 inches in diameter at a 70-degree angle. The craw space was 12 inches high so lifting him was difficult. The lip of rock lodged under his ribs acted like a fishhook preventing him from being pulled out. The crevice was so tight that John lacked mobility of his arms and legs. Rescue workers were called. They worked diligently to get him out, but the task was extremely difficult due to his position and the narrow passage they had to work in. Hanging upside down made it very difficult for John to breath. His internal organs pressed down on his lungs and the rock walls restricted deep breathing. Since John’s arms were extended in front of him he could push upward a little to relieve some of the pressure on his lungs from the sides of the cave, but as time passed his arms lost their strength and went numb, as did his legs. The veins in the legs are designed to return blood to the heart. That design worked against him upside down. The temperature in the cave was around 60 degrees, much warmer than outside, but still much lower than his body temperature. Hypothermia began its numbing effect.
John became trapped in the cave around 9 pm Tuesday night. He struggled for release and for life for 27 hours. Rescue workers estimated that an average amount of time for a person to have lasted under those conditions would have been 8 hours.
It was very windy and cold at the top of the mountain where Emily waited with John’s family. Leon Jones, John’s father, at Emily’s request gave John a blessing “remotely” from the back of the ambulance. It was a remarkable experience. Emily said there was a peace and comfort that enveloped them which was nearly tangible.
John was in good spirits and rescue workers were amazed at how he maintained his positive attitude and sense of humor. During the long hours he spoke with rescue workers about his family, Emily and Lizzie, and his mission to Ecuador. Five primary children sang him songs. He grew close to Ryan Shurtz, a rescue worker who had also served a mission to Ecuador and who was with him until he died. John made him speak to him in Spanish. They shared mission experiences, life stories and laughter. John finally said to stop making him laugh because it hurt too much.
Later Wednesday night we received word from Emily that the rescue team had gotten John back from the “L” shaped drop off that held him prisoner for nearly 24 hours. In that position on a still tight but more level shelf, he was given some Gatorade and was revived a bit. He was in very bad shape and went in and out of consciousness. His legs were blue from lack of circulation and oxygenated blood. Rope was tied to his feet holding him on the shelf. The rope was part of a pulley system, anchored to the side of the cave and extending to the mouth of the cave.
John asked to speak to Emily on the 2-way radio. Emily had some tender moments with John, reassuring him, telling him of her love for him, her faith in him and in the Lord, sharing memories and hopes. She didn’t realize at the time that she was receiving the blessing of being able to express what would be her final words to him from the fullness of her heart.
When Emily told him he had to hang on for them, John answered with his characteristic humor, “Don’t worry, a funeral isn’t in the budget right now.”
With some massaging John’s arms began to function again since they had been below the heart. John’s legs were no longer functioning and were without a pulse. John would have lost both legs if they had been able to get him out of the cave. Rescuers would reportedly also have had to break both legs backwards to maneuver him out. Ryan and his father, David Shurtz with 29 years of rescue experience, determined their best and last remaining option was for Ryan to attempt to slide past John then help push him while others pulled on the rope attached to his feet.
Seconds before Ryan began to move into position the rope holding the carabineer to the wall of the cave snapped sending the carabineer into the joint of Ryan’s right eye and nose. He almost bit his tongue off. Blood was shooting everywhere. His face took a pounding on the cave wall. When we spoke with Ryan on Saturday he had a black eye, many stitches in his tongue, and had been eating through a straw. The abrasions and swelling looked like someone had smashed his face into a cave wall.
With the tension off the rope, John helplessly slid back into where he had come from with legs and arms that wouldn’t respond to him anymore, hitting his head in the fall. John repeatedly called out, “Ryan, are you alright? He could tell Ryan was now in trouble and had been seriously hurt. Ryan assured him he would be alright. A few minutes later John slipped into unconsciousness and passed away.
Had Ryan moved into position and been either at John’s side, or behind him to help push, they both would have likely been lost. For Ryan to have decided to take the risk was heroic. Ryan said the time they spent together changed his life. Ryan changed our life as well. He was there giving comfort, aid, and support to the man we all love. Ryan brought back the most precious words a wife, daughter, and family can hear, those of John's undying devotion and love. We will be forever grateful to Ryan for all that he did, and desired to accomplish.
Near the end John knew he wasn’t going to make it. He told Ryan to tell Emily how much he loved her and their family and that he would be there for the birth of their baby. Ryan said of course he would be there, because they would get him out. John insisted, “no, but tell Emily I’ll be there when the baby is born!” We feel certain he will be. Perhaps they are already spending time together.
The peace that enveloped Emily at the time of the blessing from John’s father has continued to stay with her. When Emily was first informed that John had passed, she didn’t believe it since she had felt such peaceful assurance. Shortly thereafter she realized she still felt that peace. She realized that in spite of how chaotic and senseless the ordeal seemed, it was in the hands of our loving father. She has been given the gift of hope and faith and trust that even this trial, which will be completely life changing for her as she is put into the single parent, bread winner role, will work together for their good. She has felt through the Spirit that John has a missionary calling on the other side of the veil, and that she will also be led through the experiences she needs here which will eventually reunite them eternally.
Ryan said at the memorial service in Utah, “I will never be the same. John changed my life.” We are now hearing story after story of others expressing the same sentiments. John was able to reach out and touch people’s lives. There was no fanfare, just a deep love for others and a quickness to see their needs and respond to them. We have been so blessed by the 3 1/2 years he was part of our family. We too feel we will never be the same.
The rescue workers were never able to get John out of the cave. There would have been significant danger for them to continue to try. The Nutty Putty Cave is John’s final resting place. It has been sealed off as his tomb.
John’s family has set up a website where many stories and pictures may be shared. It is not complete yet, but there are already interesting details there. It can be viewed at johnjonesmemorial.com.
shibumi wrote:Um, Larry, in the first place, cavers I know, respect, and trained, were there on scene underground. Second, regardless, making a statement like that when you weren't there is the height of insensitivity and rudeness.
Anmar
Larry E. Matthews wrote:I knew there was a reason why I had pretty much quit contributing to this Forum. Some people don't think anyone else (but them, of course) are entitled to an opinion.
Well, too bad. It's a free country. At least, until people like you take over. Until then, I'm still free to express my opinion. I did not criticise anyone personally. You did.
Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F
Larry E. Matthews wrote: Sounds like the local Resuce Team in Utah actually did kill that poor guy.
Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F
Larry E. Matthews wrote:I knew there was a reason why I had pretty much quit contributing to this Forum. Some people don't think anyone else (but them, of course) are entitled to an opinion.
Well, too bad. It's a free country. At least, until people like you take over. Until then, I'm still free to express my opinion. I did not criticise anyone personally. You did.
cavedoc wrote:Larry E. Matthews wrote: Sounds like the local Resuce Team in Utah actually did kill that poor guy.
Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F
Ummhh. Were you there? If not, which internet version do you base your freely expressed opinion on? This comment is uncalled for and hurtful on a number of levels. You expressed it freely. Anmar expressed his opinion about it. It's a discussion board. If you make disparaging remarks people are going to call you on it.
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