Nutty Putty Cave in the News

[RockRacer]

This is from another website (Wasatch Cruisers) posted a few hours ago.


Cavers:

It is almost 3 AM and I am sad to report that the caver died and operations
have been shut down until Thanksgiving morning when the will resume in body
recovery mode. Small cavers are needed and they project another 10 hours
just to get the body out. Call Spencer if you are able to help anytime
Thanksgiving day.

I was overwhelmed with the amount of service rendered by the caving
community as well as search and rescue and the fire departments. It will
take some time for all of us to recover from the experience. Take a moment
to take the ones you love in your arms and count your blessings.

As for the cave... It is officially closed!!!

Michael Leavitt
Nutty Putty Cave Access Manager
Orem, Utah

This is very sad on a couple levels!

[Brian Passey]

Sad indeed...

[Mark1955]

Very sad indeed. I also have to wonder if the Mojave winch couldn't have been used to save him???

[CaverStretch]

It's a sad day and a reminder just how dangerous caving and mine exploring can be. I feel sad for his family.

I don't think the winch could have been used. They barely could get a rope to him. Based off how far he was in the cave, there were too many twists and turns. I think the cable would have snapped. I could see it being used in a mine rescue, but that's a whole nother creature.

[ryan162]

man thats probably the worst way to die and the worst thing that could happen for the caving community.

i found some pictures. looks sorta fun here but i couldn't do it with a smile on my face



http://www.jonjasper.com/NuttyPuttyCave/index.html <---- lots of good pictures

[GVideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6746227780078360429&hl=en#[/GVideo]

[John]

Very sad indeed.

[rhartill]

Some GOOD MUST come out of this tragedy. Answers to questions not yet even voiced will come; reflection and contemplation as to the fragility and mortality of human life; those of us left to struggle to understand and bring meaning and purpose to our lives; all of us will wonder and ultimately will renew our vows to be and do better in living and loving our time here on earth. I give thanks this Thanksgiving for all that I have and for the chance to make this world a slightly better place to live and play. Everyone involved in managing and monitoring this cave (and as it is on State land, we citizens are among the "everyone") should pause today and reflect on what we can do better and then act on these thoughts.

[offroadcmpr]

That is really sad that this happened. I was wondering how this happened though, does anyone have any information about it? Many times we are too quick to write it off as a inexperienced "spelunker" that was not properly equipped, but accidents do happen. Did he fall and get stuck, or just try to get through a squeeze that he was too big to fit through? Do you think we will ever find out? I am just wondering if there are any lessons to learn from this.

[Mark1955]

According to the channel 2 news his family told the reporter that he IS an experienced spleunker. Apparently he has explored caves all over Utah. I think it was just a poor decision he made to crawl into that small hole.

Mark

[RockRacer]

Sad indeed...

Hey Brian!

[bergdh]

Already today in the des news readers forum, some ignorant lady is already screaming for the nutty putty cave to be blasted shut. Its really unfortunate, and a feel for his family, and wife and young children.

I hope that decisions are not made rashly in this.

[Mike]

I think we all know that the cave is going to be closed forever. Time will tell. Perhaps Michael Leavitt has some input.

[ryan162]

id have to agree. that cave is going to end up sealed and/or blasted. the gating and management of the cave was supposed to make this not happen anymore. i would think this would be a, last straw, type of event.

and i looked it up online to try and figure out why he got stuck and i dont understand. hes not a big guy and hes been in alot of caves before. he got stuck in "bobs push" and thats another name for " the birth canal" apparently. the young kids picture i posted on the front is in this spot. lots of people go though that one. other small tunnels in nutty are not advised(like scout eater), but the birth canal is pretty main stream. must be an arm wedged him in or something.

[Troy]

I think it will be even more difficult to extract him now. I wonder if they could drill another tunnel to get him out. Not sure if that's even possible. Either way, i'm certain this has already been thought of. I also believe the cave will be permanently sealed and backfilled.

[Troy]

Wow. This just in...so sad. If it was my brother I would want a chance to remove him myself- Even if I had to get some buddies with pick axes. That idea would be more emotional than feasible probably. I can't imagine the passage he must have tried to go through to the point that he was at a 70-90 degree angle upside down. What a horrible ordeal. I'm afraid that this cave would probably continue to have individuals getting themselves into trouble. I used to frequent it often in 1998-1999, and knew even then that there were hole tunnels that I had no desire to go in because they were so tight. I know for a fact that this cave is not entirely surveyed because there are so many narrow passages that only a little kid could get through.

Now the cave is a memorial. So sad for for Mr. Jones and his family.

Officials halt efforts to remove body from cave
November 27th, 2009 @ 2:39pm
By John Hollenhorst
UTAH COUNTY -- Officials announced Friday they had called off any further efforts to remove the body of a man who got trapped in the Nutty Putty Cave. They also said the cave would be permanently closed.

"The decision has been made that there will be no further effort to remove John Jones' body from the Nutty Putty Cave, said Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff's Office during an afternoon press conference.

John Jones died late Wednesday night after being trapped in the caves for more than 27 hours. Rescuers worked furiously to get him out -- but in the end ran out of time.

Cannon said Jones' body was stuck in an unnamed passageway about approximately 100 feet down and 400 feet from the entrance of the cave. They initially said he was stuck in an area known as Bob's Push, which turned out to be incorrect. Cannon said the area was too dangerous and the risk too high for recovery efforts to continue.

"Where he is trapped, he is on a bend, so there's no way to really get a hold on him to be able to pull directly straight back," said Sgt. Eldon Packer with the Utah County Sheriff's Office.

Officials also announced a decision to permanently close all access to the Nutty Putty Cave. They did not say how they planned to seal it off yet.

The announcement came after a meeting early Friday, which included Jones' family. Cannon said the decision was reached with the family's input.