UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Concern is mounting for 26 year old John Jones who remains stuck, head down at a 60 degree angle in a space that is approximately 18' by 10'.
Inching Jones up, rescuers had his head out of the down position for a time late Wednesday afternoon raising hopes that he could be out of the cave within a couple hours. But an equipment failure allowed him to slide back down the smooth sided, narrow tube. Wednesday night, a Utah County Sheriff's spokesman said he's basically back in the same position as when he was first stuck Tuesday night.
Rescuers were using jack hammers to chip away at the rock around Jones.
The spokesman also said that Jones is in a weakened state and there are concerns about the medical consequences arising from such a long confinement.
Jones, who is visiting Utah to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Stansbury Park, became stuck while exploring the caves Tuesday evening with a group of 11 people -- all family members and friends. Many of those same people have kept a constant vigil at the cave opening during the rescue operation. Family members have been in contact with Jones using a radio relay. They say he has remained in remarkable spirits, but is now being severely tested.
Jones lives back east while attending the University of Virginia Medical School. Utah County rescue workers say the man became stuck around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night. They say 26-year-old John Jones from Stansbury Park went to
Stay tuned to ABC 4 News and ABC4.com for more on this story.
