SPANISH FORK, Utah, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The body of a Utah spelunker will be left in a cave after officials determined it was too dangerous to retrieve it.
John Jones, 26, of Stansbury Park, Utah, died Wednesday in the Nutty Putty Cave, a recreational area on the west side of Lake Utah, after rescuers were unable to reach him in an inaccessible 18-inch by 10-inch L-shaped "pinch point," The Deseret News of Salt Lake City reported Sunday.
After much discussion with state officials, the cave owner and Jones' family, a decision was made Friday to leave the man's body in the cave and close the popular attraction, sealing off the entrance to the complex of underground caverns.
"There will be no future efforts to remove the body because of where it's located and the danger of accessing the area. The risk is too high," Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon told reporters.
Sheriff Jim Tracy told the Deseret News the decision respects Jones' family and noted it was the fifth accident in the cave within the past 10 years.
