Aussie parachutists jump into arms of startled police

Australian police cruising Sydney's city centre early Wednesday morning were startled when a parachutist floated to earth and landed in front of their patrol car.

Moments later a second man landed across the street and tried to flee, dragging his parachute behind him.

The officers gave chase and arrested both men -- BASE jumpers aged in their twenties who had leapt off a highrise building on the city's main thoroughfare, George Street.

Police Inspector Brenton Lee told ABC radio that when the officers saw the man land in front of them at about 3 am "they expressed surprise".

Catching the second man, who tried to flee, was not too difficult as the parachute "did cause the second person to slow down considerably," he said.

Both men have been charged with risking the safety of others by jumping from a building or structure.

BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span, earth -- fixed objects from which some parachutist jump for sport.