Comments about ‘Body will remain in sealed Utah County cave’

I am just wondering if he went out spelunking on his own. I went to this cave back in 1980, but I was with a group of people that knew what they were doing. Never, never would I go to the cave on my own because it is a death trap.

He with with a bunch of people. There are plenty of news articles stating that fact.

I am very sad for this young man's family and very sorry that he died in the infamous Nutty Putty Cave! I was shocked to hear that it had been re-opened and hope it will be sealed permanently. Too many people have died or been injured there.

This is a heartbreaking thing, but his body is stuck. From what I've heard, he's bent around a corner, and his rib cage is caught on a lip of rock, like a fish hook barb catches on the fish.

The cave is as cold as a fridge, and rigor mortis setting in means his body was stiff by Thursday morning. Rigor mortis goes away, but even then he still might be stuck. Then they might have to cut him out, either by busting the the rocks that he's wedged against or by cutting his body.

Nobody is dawdling. This is horrific for everyone involved.

It is tragic that he died there. Sad and Sorry 1:34 should realize this is the first death in the cave. It should not be sealed off. If it is to be sealed, we should certainly first seal off Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, interstate 15, the Wasatch Mountains, any home bathtub, and lots of other places where more than one death has taken place.

Tanya, what makes you think it is any easier to get him out now than yesterday? Saying that they are taking their "sweet" time shows a lack of understanding of how difficult this situaion is. I pray for the family and also for the rescuers (most of whom are volunteers) who gave it their all this Thanksgiving and endangered their lives in trying to make this turn out better. Their lives will never quite be the same.

This cave is not cold as a fridge. Its a geothermal cave. its always around 90 degrees in there. This sucks that they are closing the cave. Cave has been frequented by THOUSANDS of people including myself around 40 times. There are spots that are tight, but for the most part its not bad. There are ropes through the main chamber to assist you in descending and ascending the different levels. Closing the cave is a complete knee jerk reaction.

Why would they leave a cave open with a dead body in it. Kind of creepy.

The article mentions that the Timpanogos Grotto manages access to the cave with permits to properly qualified groups. How is it determined that spelunkers entering the Nutty Putty Caves are properly qualified? Is there a written exam, a physical fitness test, or a cave simulator? Just wondering.

There sure is a lot of second guessing going on here based on news sources. Have some faith that the professionals managing this situation are considering options in the best interests of everyone. You can't regulate everyone's life and stopping a sport because it is dangerous is silly, unless it endangers uninvolved others. However, if they leave him in there because he cannot be reasonably removed then this is a grave, and it should be sealed. There are a lot of other caves people can use in Utah.

This story just gets more sad by the day. If I were the family, I think my first reaction would be to get my loved one out...then again, that might not be a possibility.

this cave is dangerouse i was surprised when i heard it had been reopened places are tight in their this man is not the only one who has died in their when i hear some one got stuck in a cave i think let me guess nutty putty that cave needs to be sealed off forever never to be open it has caused a lot of trouble with the spaces in the cave

I am with snowman. Who is going to volunteer to extract the man from the cave in order to keep it open? Sounds like it would be tricky and definitely unpleasant...

Spelunking is a dangerous sport with inherent risks involved. Closing off natures wonders to caving enthusiasts because of an accident seems reactionary and unreasonable.

Eventually every activity I enjoyed as a child will be off limits because of some tragedy or because someone's feelings got hurt. I do feel bad for the family, death is a painful thing to be alive for, but I also feel bad for all of the people who never got to go into that cave and never will. With this mentality they should ban driving a car, cars are far more dangerous that Nutty Putty cave is or maybe the wise members of the government should ban cigarettes entirely or maybe take away any and all activities that might hurt someone or make them feel bad.

I'm sad that this has happened. Question? Was one of our mine rescue crews called in? Just wondering they are the finest.

What a sad ending to an heroic efforts by all the volunteers. Sometimes we just have to consider that the ultimate outcome may be tragic. Not being familiar with the cave, I am not at liberty to validate my opinions, but, if the only option is to leave him interred in the cave, I feel that, out of respect, the cave should be sealed as a final resting place, and a memorial be erected. The USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor is a permanent interment for the men who tragically lost their lives and could not be recovered, and that portion of Nutty Putty Cave should be sealed, as well.

You need to be sealed off forever, any time you do a sport IE, climbing, hiking, spelunking, skydiving there is a risk. The reason most people do these sports is for the thrill, they are aware of the risks involved, and they CHOOSE to take the risk or not, Maybe you should move some place where the government controls your movement. It is always sad when someone losses their life doing a sport, but you don't stop the sport, We should close the canyons from skiers long before we close the cave.

1st everyone should be praying for this mans family, it is a tragedy. 2nd I can't believe the inaccuracies from many of you. This is the first and only DEATH in this cave and if you have never been in this cave you should keep your statemnts to facts that YOU know. I have explored this cave many times in my youth with scout troops and friends. If you are into extreme sports this would be on the low level risk factor. People die in tragic situations that are avoidable every day, but we all still have the right to experience life in OUR way. Closing the cave would be wrong, they should look in to other possibilities. If they need to seal off the fork of the cave by Bob's push as a grave site for this man then so be it, let it be a reminder to all who visit that you need to respect the cave, they should not close off the whole cave

This summer I visited a small portion of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky,(US National Park).

After a two hour tour underground, I decided that caving is not a place to play around.Even there I was very close to spots that If you took the wrong turn and lost your way, you would be in danger.

Because it is a national park and we went in as a large group with an expirenced guide we tend to think its completly safe.It wasn't as risk free. There were hidden dangers and one had to be carefull.I'm glad I went but would think twice about going back.