I find this theory interesting. When I explained the case to my husband he said, "Well, it doesn't sound like he fell the full 17 feet....so how did he get those injuries. 17 feet isn't even 2 stories. I'm a big guy and I think even if I fell two stories I wouldn't have those injuries."
As a former orthopedic nurse, I can see why he'd think this. A fall from 15 feet CAN, most definitely, result in a broken pelvis and ankle(s), however. But were those pipes the full 17.5 feet down the stack?
There is a cross-pipe 10 feet down from the top of the chimney that runs one side to the other through the center of the stack, then another set of pipes running through the entire expanse of the stack 7.5 feet below the cross-pipe (probably a bracing pipe the top one).
Below the first layer of full pipes, there is another full layer of pipes.
The remains were found atop the first layer.
0 feet - top of stack. The stack is only 4.5 feet wide at this point.
10 feet from top of stack - single cross-pipe
?? feet - "just above first layer of parallel pipes, stack abruptly widens to 11 feet diameter" (taken from the written description of the stack, but no specific height given)
17.5 feet from top of stack - layer of 11 parallel pipes with remains laying atop
21 feet from top of stack - another layer of parallel pipes
IMO the injuries (broken femurs, perhaps pelvis) were caused by him striking that single cross-pipe on the way down as it was most unavoidable given stack was only 4.5 feet wide at this portion if I understand the written evidentiary description correctly, followed by the pelvis and ankle break when landing on the set of parallel pipes he cam to rest on. He lived, at least for a little bit as earlier case points note that an ankle was wrapped with cloth as if to assist with an injury. He must have been in a hell of a lot of pain - how horrible for him it must have been.
May 2022 be the year he finds his name and makes his way home to those who loved and miss him.
Great post linked here that has the police evidentiary diagrams made of the stack:
WA - WA - Bellingham, Georgia Pacific plant, WhtMal 20-40, 862UMWA, Continental Airlines ticket, Sep'87