Skypunk

guest · May 30th, 2002, 06:56 PM

If anyone has any questions regarding what happened you may post a response to this. Let's keep this simple, ask what you need to, otherwise this will become a huge thread of posts.

I was part of the 3 way, and was the last person to see him alive.

Just one quick correction, his passing occurred on the morning of May 30th.

Lee was a very special person to myself, and to many. I will always admire his courage, energy, enthusiasm, and motivation.

BTW: The person that posted the comment about Lee talking about if someone goes in (Skinflicka) is accurate, and he stood by that philosophy. Although his body was dead, his spirit is well alive. Don't confuse this fact.

All of us will deal with his passing in our own ways, let's just remember that he died doing what he absolutely loved.

I really wish I had more to say, but I don't right now. There is no instruction manual on how to deal with these kinds of situations.

C

guest · May 30th, 2002, 10:47 PM

I thought this was a pretty tough policy that if you go in, the other jumpers should run like ##### and get the hell out of there.... Now I dont mean any disrespect, I am not a participant in your sport, my questions are out of curiosity.(please dont take for some sicko)
Was he dead on impact? I have heard of many examples of people breaking many bones but still making it out alive(with clibing falls etc..) if attention is immediatly given.
I was just wondering if Lee would have stood a greater chance of survival had attention been given by someone trained in first aid or th like...

pete

**Skinflicka** · May 31st, 2002, 01:58 AM

Crash,

The cincy crew would like to give you a holler. I know you may not feel up to it at the moment. Give your self some time then drop me a note and I'll call you. We'd like to share our buddy's last adventure.

Peace bro'.

Jase.

Skinflicka@hotmail.com

guest · May 31st, 2002, 03:05 AM

So lets hear it. The morning of the 30th. What were the conditions? Did something go wrong with the 3 way? Equipment problems? It will help me deal with this loss and hopefully help prevent this from happening to others to hear what went wrong.

Punk, ISP!

lowtoadgrl · May 31st, 2002, 03:45 AM

Crash,

I stand by you and Lee in the agreements made between base jumpers. As the girlfriend and a usual ground crew (get away driver) I have been on many base jumps with experienced jumpers. We all make the agreement to leave and call 911 if someone goes in. It's hard to understand unless your a base jumper I guess.

I have to say I met Lee the 1st time he jumped that tower ...he renamed it "death star" because of the 3 pronged star platform on top (it reminded him of Star Wars)... it had been called Cow paddy ( all those cows left a lot of mess and you had to be careful where you landed) We went out in January and I've never witnessed such a stunning jump. 4 jumpers the 1st and 2nd on 4 second delays from the top then a 5 sec from his friend and then...Lee at least 7 seconds on that one and he scared me..but he was great. Right as he pulled I heared "Woo woo woo woo woo" Then 3 seconds later he landed grinning ear from ear thanking my boyfriend over and over for getting him in this site. I'm so sad for the loss ...but I know he loved it. I've been up on that tower to the 1000ft platform and seen the view. It's beautiful and very peaceful with the full moon shining in the cooling pond below and the glow from the lights in Orlando in the distance.

I feel inappropriate asking this question, but why didin't you get his gear? I've been instructed to get the rig if I'm in this situation...but I'm sure it's not easy ....just wondered and ...was the fog the factor? I saw canopy out on the news? Did you get the camera?

Merry Christmas Lee...you know what this means.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 04:17 AM

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...ome%2Dheadline

guest · May 31st, 2002, 04:30 AM

All:

I haven't jumped in years, but I knew Lee and just wanted to offer my thoughts and love to those of you in Florida and elsewhere who knew him too.

I've known Lee since we were very little. I went to high school with him, even wore his ring at 15. When I finished college and started hanging at an Ohio drop zone, I caught up with him again. I'll never forget zipping around the countryside on the back of his racing motorcycle. I've kept in touch with him over the years. He was a great light -- a wonderful touch of colour and freedom in a world that can be too grey.

When I heard, my first comment was that he died happy, doing what he loved the most. May he always have blue skies ...

My love and thoughts with all of you ...

Shelley
Cincinnati, OH
shels@mac.com

guest · May 31st, 2002, 04:44 AM

I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure he was dead on impact. Another jumper took his vitals.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 04:47 AM

You ##### people should WAKE UP. Lee did not die happy. Sure he loved BASE jumping, but I doubt he was all happy about impacting himself to death. And as far as the "go-in" instructions, that is total bullshit. You don't leave your mates behind, NO MATTER WHAT. That is a ##### up policy. And if it was the policy, then you guys ##### that up too. You left behind the gear, and the camera, so what was the point? If I ever meet up with the assholes that left Lee behind, I'm giving you a punch in the face.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 04:53 AM

okay, here's what happened. Lee exited on his back filming myself and another jumper on a three way. The plan: Jumper 1 pulls at about 5 seconds, myself at 7, Lee at whatever altitude he wanted to. When I tossed out at 7 seconds, Lee flew by me on his back, I counted 4 seconds after that, he then flipped on his belly 1 more second, hit the fog, 2 seconds after that I heard the beginning of his opening (crackel kind of sound) then a thump. (about a 14 second delay).

origionally the base of light fog started about 300 feet off the ground, and went up to about 600 or so. when we got to our exit point, the fog had lowered to the ground to the point where you couldn't see the ground untill about 75 feet or so. The weather conditions had quickly changed.

hope this clears some things up

guest · May 31st, 2002, 04:59 AM

In this kind of situation I believe it is best to not tamper with anything that might be considered evidence in a homicide invistigation.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 05:02 AM

Hi All,

I'm am deeply saddened by Lee's passing. I knew Lee from High School and we had not been in contact for a number of years (I was living out of the country) but his accomplishments in Cincinnati were sent to me by my family via newpaper clippings about his jumps (and unfortunately arrests) from the Carew Tower. I was fortunate to catch up with him and speak with him as recently as a few years ago. When we spoke, I saw genuine happiness for life coming from him.

He was a guy who was always into the extreme...even back in H.S. with a great sense of humour and a heart of gold.

My heart goes out to all of the lives Lee touched with his special, kind soul and is with Lee...in the great blue sky beyond.

Kelsey

guest · May 31st, 2002, 05:03 AM

Was it clearly a low-pull? Did he have PC or canopy out at impact? Was the container open? Pin or Velcro?

guest · May 31st, 2002, 05:12 AM

With incidents such as this, it is easy for the detective to start pointing fingers and then the other jumpers wind up in jail for a long time for "contributing to his death" by just being there. Detectives are always looking for someone to blame. There was nothing the other jumpers could do anyway. I agree with their approach.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 05:22 AM

I understand your anger, but I believe it is misplaced. I was not involved with the above incident, but this is a forum open to everyone's opinion.

There are valid reasons for adopting the policy of leaving the dead behind when said death occurs during the commission of a crime. The legal system in this country is screwed. Prosecutorial discretion is abused all the time to attach criminal intent where none exists.

For instance, if an accomplice and I commit a robbery of a 7-11 and my accomplice gets shot and killed by the store-owner, most states laws dictate that I get charged with murder for the death of my friend.

Exactly the same law applies to this situation, as long as they can relate the act of BASE jumping to a felony, which they would do their best to do (through the FCC regulations governing interfering or tampering with a transmitter or some such).

What is to be gained by staying with the body and taking the best the government can dish out, for the self-aggrandizement of the local DA? Being noble is not worth life in prison.