Cave explorer and popular YouTuber Brandon Kowallis was the last person to see John Jones alive before the trainee medic met his tragic demise in 2009. John passed away after being trapped for over 24 hours in Utah’s Nutty Putty Cave. Rescuers made efforts to save him, but the circumstances led to what has been described as a ‘worst death imaginable.’
At 26 years old, John, a medical student and experienced cave explorer, took a fatal turn inside the cave’s tight ‘birth canal.’ Despite his familiarity with caves, a wrong direction led to his immobilization and ultimately his death.
Brandon has shared his perspective on the events that unfolded in a blog post, recounting the rescue mission on that fateful day in 2009. Upon reaching John, Brandon witnessed his distressing condition, struggling to breathe and with limited movement due to his precarious position.
Efforts to extricate John included considering the use of a jackhammer to widen the tunnel, a risky proposition that could have caused severe injuries. Despite the rescue team’s persistent efforts, the task proved more challenging than anticipated, estimating days of work to free John from the cave.
Throughout the ordeal, John’s family communicated with him via radio, offering words of love and support. Tragically, John was declared deceased before midnight, succumbing to cardiac arrest and suffocation.
Left behind were John’s wife, Emily, their daughter Lizzie, and an unborn child who was later named after the late father. The family faced a heartbreaking loss, with John’s memory living on in his children.
