Parachute Team Member Went Off Course, Wound Up In Cleveland Harbor

The Coast Guard rescued a member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, after he missed the landing zone and ended up in Cleveland Harbor, off the coast of Cleveland Saturday morning.

It is Coast Guard policy to withhold the names of those rescued after the active response has concluded, so the soldier's name is not being released, according to a USCG news release.

At 10:30 a.m., a member of the Golden Knights jumped out of a Navy C-130 over Cleveland Harbor, to perform with other members of the team during the Cleveland National Air Show.  Following his free fall performance, he ended up in the waters of Cleveland Harbor.

The parachutist reported that when he opened his parachute, a gust of wind pushed him over the water making him miss the landing zone by 200 yards.

A rescue boatcrew aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small from Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor patrolling the harbor was able to pick him up and transport him to back to the smallboat station with no injuries reported.

"The rescue boatcrew was glad to help out our brother-in-arms," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Larry Odell, officer-of-the-day at Station Cleveland Harbor.

"Hope he enjoyed the boat ride," Odell joked.

The U.S. Army Parachute Team, nicknamed “The Golden Knights,” is the U.S. Army’s official aerial demonstration team. The Team travels around the United States, performing parachute demonstrations at air shows, sports games and special events, connecting the Army with the American people.

FMI: www.uscg.mil