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Parachutist lands in tree during St. Patrick's Day parade

An expert parachutist lacked the luck of the Irish at Raleigh's St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday. He landed in a tree, instead of Martin Street.

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Parachutist Dave Lillico_04
RALEIGH, N.C. — An expert parachutist lacked the luck of the Irish at Raleigh's St. Patrick's Day celebration Saturday. He landed in a tree, instead of the street.

Dave Lillico was part of the Patriotic Parachute Team making a jump to Martin Street at the start of the festival in Moore Square. But crosswinds threw the parachutists off course, and Lillico's chute ended up caught in tree branches above the street.

Firefighters parked a fire truck underneath him, climbed on top and got Lillico down safely. Lillico said he was fine.

Lillico said he is an expert parachutist and retired Green Beret with more than 5,300 jumps.

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