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Your Lost Coast Outpost woke up to numerous messages from residents in and around the Rio Dell area, all wondering: What in God’s name is going on with this helicopter hovering over the town at 3 a.m.?

We have an answer. The helicopter was a Coast Guard helicopter, and it was there to rescue a person stranded on the other side of the river.

A few moments ago, Lt. Sam Williams of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office gave us the story. Earlier in the evening, a person swam across the Eel near the end of Davis Street. At some point — either while in transit or once on the other side — she injured her ankle and couldn’t swim back across.

The Sheriff’s Office activated its Marine Unit to effect a rescue, but conditions made that impossible. So the Coast Guard was notified and sent a helicopter to the person’s aid. Outpost informants tell us that it initially made a couple of swoops over the city, but Lt. Williams tells us that the patient was eventually located and transported to safety.

That’s what that was!