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MATFIELD GREEN, Kan. - Friends are mourning the death of a Kansas man who died in a leap from a 393-foot communication tower when his parachute failed to open in time. The Emporia Gazette reports a funeral is scheduled in Topeka for Frank Hubbell, 50, on Saturday, one week after his death.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says Hubbell, of Tecumseh, died at the scene from the trauma of the impact. The accident happened in a rural area about seven miles east of Matfield Green.Hubbell's brother, Bill Hubbell, told The Gazette his brother enjoyed the sport of BASE jumping and had done about 150 jumps. BASE stands for Building, Antennae, Span, Earth.
The sheriff said he was not aware of any other instance of someone jumping from the tower.