DELAND – A 31-year-old Navy SEAL has died after making a hard landing during a skydiving exercise in central Florida.
William "Blake" Marston of Concord, New Hampshire, died Saturday morning after landing on the grounds of a DeLand airport, where he was doing the training exercise.
Police said after he was found on the ground unconscious and with a broken leg, he was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. A witness told police that something flew off his parachute as he was in free fall between 40 to 60 feet above ground.
New Hampshire U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte and Gov. Maggie Hassan said Marston, who was in the Navy for six years, served the country with honor and courage.
