Skypunk

guest · May 31st, 2002, 05:56 AM

>What is to be gained by staying with the body
>and taking the best the government can dish out,

Dignity. We play a high stakes game called BASE jumping. We also are involved in being human beings.
It is a major ethical /judgement slip to leave a dead friend behind. Maybe it was a bad decision made under a lot of duress. But frankly it's something you shold think about before you leave the house because you may be forced to decide.
When the worst happens--all the cloak and dagger ##### ends--you start playing by the rules of life.

Sure, leaving the scene and calling used to be part of our little Black Death mantra. It's also part of how the BASE continually undermines it's own legitimacey.

God's Speed Lee.

Adam F.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 06:31 AM

I would agree with you if this had occured on BLM land in an otherwise legal environment.

However, a BASE jump that requires trespassing has already lost any legitimacy that it had. A death that occurs during the commission of a crime is going to call down the thunder.

As long as our laws are based on "community standards" or the "reasonable person" standard, one will find themselves with the sh!t end of the stick by making themselves a martyr for the legitimacy of BASE. BASE jumping does not appear legitimate to the reasonable person.

You ignore the fact that this was not "a decision made under duress". It was planned and agreed to.

You may have your dignity when they throw you in prison, but prison has its own ways of taking your dignity away. I'm sure it's a long, painful process.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 06:50 AM

For those of you who can make it, we are remembering Lee tonight @ Deland, he said he wanted a big party when he went - lets not let him down. I just called into work, so Ill be there. See you on the flipside.
BSBD, 10-4
Derek

guest · May 31st, 2002, 06:56 AM

This proves what a ##### wad you are. The whole point of any "grab the gear and run" policy would have been for the purpose of removing any BASE evidence. By leaving the gear and the camera, which you are probably on, defeats the whole purpose of that ##### up mentality. You suck.

imported_Tom Aiello · May 31st, 2002, 07:06 AM

Maybe we ought to leave this thread for the facts of the incident?

Crash was trying to focus this thread on what people actually did. By posting recriminations here, all you can really achieve is making a relatively open, firsthand source of information shut up and not share. That's not really productive.

If you feel the need, perhaps you could start another thread on what you think people should have done. If you don't feel the need, I plan on starting that discussion in a few days, once people have cooled off about this specific incident.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

guest · May 31st, 2002, 08:48 AM

Yes, he did toss out. As I said in an earlier post, I heard the beginning of the opening and then a thump (meaning his canopy started inflating but never reached full pressorization) When we found Lee, his canopy was out dressed over him.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 09:10 AM

Thanks Crash.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 09:21 AM

I met Lee just a few months back when he started @ Deland.....we quickly became friends and often hung out......Lee was a big part of my day at the DZ....we laughed alot....we talked about skydiving...we laughed alot...we talked about b.a.s.e. jumping.....we laughed alot.....we goofed on old S.N.L. clips......we laughed alot....we held secret 4.20 meetings.....he organized my 100th jump and jumped with me........we laughed alot......he gave me my first "spock".....we laughed alot.

Now, I'm gonna miss him alot.

I will not forget Lee and what an amazing person he was. He was full of energy and shared his love of life with everyone near him.

(((Hope you heard me up there today Lee....I did what you would have wanted me to)))

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all his many friends.

Bob

guest · May 31st, 2002, 10:38 AM

You are utterly out of line and full of crap. The grab the rig and go policy applies (using common sense) when responsible base jumpers decide that it applies. It is not some code etched in stone.

Moving Lee's body to remove the rig would have had some interesting effects. Let's look closer:

1. Lee's family would have been informed the circumstances of his death were not fully known and the police may well have undertaken a more extensive investigation, causing more grief for friends and family

2. Moving or stealing evidence from the scene of a human death can be a felony. Obstruction of Justice is a serious charge and a local DA who does not understand BASE could use it as a tool to discourage BASE in their area and punish a few jumpers as well.

3. Removal of the rig would have forced the police to at least answer the question :Where is the rig? If you want to piss off the police even more than a bounce will, try forcing them to chase up a bunch of grotty BASE jumpers to try to find out who was stupid enough to strip gear off of a corpse.

Think before you empty your bile on this board. Unless you are trashing Robin Heid.

guest · May 31st, 2002, 11:37 AM

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.

YOUR WAY OUTTA LINE SMOKIN HOT.............
THIS IS TRAGIC......START YOUR OWN POST CONCERNING BASE ACCIDENT RULES AND BITCH ALL YOU WANT....DON'T YOU TAINT THIS WITH YOUR OPINION.
THOSE THAT JUMPED WITH LEE DID ALL THEY COULD AND ARE IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH !!!!!

guest · June 1st, 2002, 07:00 AM

I remember when I first me Lee. I thought that he was a nut. I believe truely in my heart that he did die happy! When he lived in Norwood with Jimmy, B.A.S.E. 725 (another jumper and my bf) I never thought of the day he would go in, he was ALWAYS careful about jumping and never wanted anyone to ever get hurt; let alone die. When I told him that Base Jumping was something that I would try, he said to me, "if you really want to jump, safety is the number one key factor, along with the rush!" It's hard to believe that SKYPUNK really said that but he did! So I tell you this, BE CAREFUL. I know you guys don't like hearing that, but no matter what, take that extra percaution. Miss you Punk! Right On! Team Tung-n-Gruv

JEN

guest · June 1st, 2002, 08:51 AM

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...me%2Dheadlines

guest · June 1st, 2002, 08:54 AM

In reference to the link I just posted, it is not true that anyone at Skydive DeLand turned them in. They did, in fact, turn themselves in.

feral · June 1st, 2002, 05:53 PM

Never met you lee but my thoughts are with you and you friends and family .......

All this talk about never leaving the body and leaving your mates takes me back 1999 in Norway when lots of people on this board were calling my mates (unts for leaving the body on T wall ,But as always you got it wrong !!!!! Back then lots of you didn't know them then but many of you know them now ,and you should never say sh!t about them until you are put in that position you are in shock ,morning and your brain is telling you all sorts of stuff so settle the fu(k down.

I have told my mates if I go in to fu(k off leave me as I am dead I know my mates they would get to me check me out if dead they would panic forget what I have said and make a decision on they based on there morals ..

And people your family and friends you should explain to them what can go wrong because I wouldn't want anyone to go to a funeral and have everybody look at you with blame in there eyes as we did that's fu(ked

bsbd feral:-(

guest · June 3rd, 2002, 08:29 AM

My sincerest condolences to you for having to endure all of this. I know that Lee would have not wanted for you, or anyone, to have such grief over something that he loved so much.
Little did I know that I was doing just what he would have expected me to do, had I heard the news that night... Drinking a Corona, (With a lemon) and thinking of him. You see, I am not a big beer drinker, but Lee introduced me to Corona with lemon at a Back Doors concert years and years and years ago. Every time I go to a bar-concert, I order them, and think of him.
He was such a wonderful, exciting friend that touched your heart in a glance and left his mark on your soul.
I have been fortunate enough to have been very close to him off and on for many years, and although we were on an off, I always seem to think of him often, and always keep my eyes out for the next time he came around the corner.... He always seemed to "jump" out of nowhere, and brighten up life in a frenzy of excitement.... literally! Even, on the rare occasion, that he was feeling down, he was still positive, and would try not to let anyone know that he was distressed about something because he didn't want to bring anyone else down.
His soul was pure Love... I actually witnessed the day that God touched him, and changed his life. I believe that that was the day, that in his heart, he became a BASE jumper... The one that all of you know and Love... The one that brought everyone together, just by having known him and having been touched by him... What greater thing could a man do in such a diverse world...
I believe that the best way to honor him is by learning the things that he stood for, and living our lives accordingly... Love, Honor, Respect, and Enjoy!
I Love You Lee - You'll always be in my heart... Thanks... -Janelle

P.S. To the family... I miss you guys! Please get in touch with me so I can be there for the services... I hope you are all doing as well as you can be, Please know that you, too, are all in my heart.... Lee could have never been the way he was if it hadn't been for you... I Love Ya! - Me