PLATTSBURGH — Law enforcement and rescue personnel combed the woods in the Town of Plattsburgh for hours after residents spotted a parachutist dropping from the sky.

They thought he'd dropped in the woods and might be hurt.

But the man was later found unharmed after descending into a park.

"He was located in good health, and no laws or regulations were broken," said Sgt. John Coryea of the New York State Police, who did not release the man's name.

The parachutist decided he wanted to jump into a local public park rather than the normal site.

After he exited the plane, it appeared that gusty winds blew him off course as he descended.

"Some people who were in somewhat close proximity saw him jump and thought he landed in a wooded area, which would obviously create risk for him," Coryea said.

Firefighters from Saranac, Cadyville and Morrisonville and volunteers from Altona with ATVs were sent to the wooded area, which includes a pond and swampy area that would make it difficult for someone who was injured to summon help.

State Police and Sheriff's Department personnel were also involved in the search, and the Department of Homeland Security's helicopter team looked from the skies.

Searchers scoured the woods off upper Rugar Street to try to find a person with a red, white and blue parachute.

The search stretched along Rugar Street to the sand pit off Brown and Cross roads and the area near the Recreation Park and Kelly Road.

They found the parachutist unharmed, and he explained what he had done with the jump.

"Nothing in state law or FAA regulations prohibits it," Coryea said.



E-mail Stephen Bartlett:
sbartlett@pressrepublican.com