Patrick’s Point-based Friends of the LoCO have been wondering what was up with the Coast Guard rescue operation that took place up at the park about an hour ago.

“[The] helicopter is just off the cliff side, hovering just above the ground,” writes one reader, who also provided the brief and tree-obscured video at right. “Emergency vehicles are out there. It seems to be off the cliff side of Turtle Rocks Inn. Any news?”

Sector Humboldt Bay Lt. Commander Thomas “Tombo” Jones was able to fill us in. Earlier, the Trinidad Fire Department had received a call that a 61-year-old man had fallen down a cliff or ravine in the area. When they responded, they discovered that they could not safely get down to the beach where the man had landed.

The Coast Guard scrambled a helo and a rescue swimmer and sped up to the scene. There, the swimmer — who is also a trained EMT — was able to descend and offer quick care before the copter lifted the patient up and flew him to Mad River Hospital.

Jones said the man suffered a fractured ankle and is in stable condition.