NH Navy SEAL was Unconscious After Parachuting from Plane: Report

BEDFORD, NH - The investigation into the death of William Blake Marston, a Navy SEAL from Bedford who passed away last year after a parachuting accident, has concluded that he was unconscious during the jump, according to a report in the Virginian-Pilot.

The newspaper received a copy of the investigation after making a Freedom of Information Act request. The report found that Marston never opened his parachute after jumping out of the plane. The parachute and equipment were found to be in “good working condition,” according to the report.

Marston was supposed to open his parachute about five seconds after exiting the plane. Fifteen seconds after jumping out, he became unconscious and then, hit the ground 15 seconds after that.

“It wasn’t clear from the redacted documents how the Navy knew when Marston lost consciousness,” according to the report.

Marston was 31. He grew up in Bedford and attended the Derryfield School in Manchester. He served two tours in Afghanistan. Marston has family that currently lives in Concord. At the time of his death, in January 2015, flags in were posted at half-mast in New Hampshire. Concord Firefighters hoisted a large American flag to honor Marston when his body returned to Concord.

Read the full report online at PilotOnline.com.