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The last person to see ill-fated caver John Jones alive revealed how emergency services determined his death. The harrowing circumstances of John’s demise are familiar to many, with the young man having suffered what has been dubbed “the worst death imaginable.” In November 2009, John visited Utah’s infamous Nutty Putty Cave with his brother and some friends, having traveled from his home in Virginia for Thanksgiving.

What transpired in the cave left a chilling legacy still discussed today, 16 years later. Attempting to navigate Nutty Putty’s tight tunnels, John mistakenly entered a section of the cave known as the ‘Birth Canal’, ultimately becoming lodged upside down with no escape.

If this prospect induces a shudder, rest assured; you are not alone. For many, it’s a nightmare scenario: being trapped in a dark cave tunnel with rock ahead and no means of retreat.

John’s brother scrambled back to the surface to raise the alarm, triggering a massive rescue operation lasting over 27 hours. Dozens of rescuers worked in shifts to free him, battling the cramped conditions and the awkward position of his body. As time passed, Jones’ situation grew critical. Trapped upside down for hours, blood rushed to his head, and his heart was under extreme strain.

Tragically, John died despite the extensive efforts to save his life.

The last person to see him alive was cave explorer and YouTuber Brandon Kowallis, who assisted in the efforts to free John. Last year, Brandon wrote a blog post about the incident, revealing how paramedics determined John’s death.

Brandon wrote: “They sent in a smaller paramedic to see if he could reach John. If he couldn’t, he showed me how to use the stethoscope and thermometer and where to check for a pulse.”

He continued: “I first tried the stethoscope, managing to place it about three inches up and to the right of his navel. I didn’t hear a distinct heartbeat, only some ruffling, fluttering sounds, likely a result of me shaking as I tried to steady myself in an awkward location.”

Brandon tried to reach John’s torso to check for breathing.

He recalled: “Next, I removed his shoe and attempted to check his temperature. The thermometer read nothing, which the paramedic explained was because the temperature was below its measurable range. As I took his shoes off and moved his feet I noticed that his feet and legs were significantly stiffer than they had been earlier and it was difficult to move his leg more than a few inches.”

Brandon returned to the surface to report his grim findings to paramedics, who then crawled into the cave to confirm John’s death. Susie Motola, one of the rescuers who remained with John until the end, later recounted his last words.

In the cave, John told her, “Hi Susie, thanks for coming, but I really, really want to get out.”

Moments later, he heartbreakingly asked, “I’m going to die right here. I’m not going to make it out, am I?”

Tragically, John was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest, and Nutty Putty Cave was permanently sealed with his body still inside.

Afterward, John’s wife, Emily Jones Sanchez, had their second child and eventually remarried.

Today, a memorial plaque stands at the cave’s entrance – a somber reminder of a tragic day that left the caving community forever changed.