Man freed from Utah cave crevice

PROVO, Utah, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A 26-year-old man stuck upside down in a cave crevice in Utah was freed Wednesday and rescuers were preparing to get him back to the surface, authorities said.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported rescuers were giving John Jones, 26, of Stansbury Park, Utah, food and water, and a medical helicopter was waiting to take him to a hospital to be checked out. There was no word on Jones's condition but he spoke with his wife over police radio, the newspaper said.

Jones got himself in the jam in Nutty Putty Cave in Utah County Tuesday night while exploring with a group of friends, the Tribune reported. The 6-foot, 200-pound medical student was trying to get through a space 18 inches wide by 8-10 inches high headfirst when he wound up stuck 700 feet below the surface.

"We were just looking forward to a good time," said his 32-year-old brother, Mike. "We were in a pretty happy mood."

The cave, about 1,500 feet long with several narrow passageways, is popular with caving enthusiasts, the newspaper noted.