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Police Identify Zephyrhills Skydiving Fatality

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By NICOLA M. WHITE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 10, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS The Finnish man who died Friday while skydiving near the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport has been identified as Juha Hillgen, 44.

Hillgen was an experienced skydiver who was in town with a group of about 90 other Finnish skydivers. On Friday morning he went up in a plane, jumped out and apparently died before he hit the ground, authorities said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident, but initial reports indicate Hillgen was the victim of what is called a hard opening, when the parachute opens too vigorously.

"It jerked him real hard," Zephyrhills Police Department Sgt. Rob Perrault said.

The Zephyrhills Police Department had to work with overseas authorities, including the Finnish Consulate, to ensure all Hillgen's family members had been notified before his name was released.

Hillgen is survived by a wife and two children, ages 12 and 9, Perrault said.

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