Military

Navy SEAL Killed In Skydiving Training Accident (Video)

By Beth Ford Roth / Home Post Blogger

Published January 14, 2015 at 6:30 AM PST

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

The Navy is investigating the death of Petty Officer 1st Class William "Blake" Marston, 31, a Navy SEAL who died Jan. 11 during a skydiving training exercise.

WFTV.com reports a 911 caller saw Marston free-fall between 60 and 90 feet to the ground when it appeared his parachute malfunctioned:

"Is his parachute open?" the 911 dispatcher asked.

"Yeah, his parachute is open, but it's dangling over a fence right now. I think something broke in it," the caller said.

Marston was a 2001 graduate of Derryfield School in Manchester, N.H. He attended Stonehill College, where he played baseball, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Marston then trained to be a Navy SEAL in San Diego, completing his training in 2009.

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Marston's father, Bill, told the Concord Monitor his son loved being a Navy SEAL:

“He said, ‘You know, Dad, I can’t possibly imagine being in any other profession where I have such respect and love for my teammates'

“He wasn’t only proud of being a SEAL, but he was also very, very proud of all his brothers.”

Marston will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery next week.