There is a major recreational river in these parts - the Nooksack River - and it is a very popular inner-tubing. From The Bellingham Herald
Three rescued after falling into Nooksack River
Three recreational inner-tubers – including a 10-year-old boy – who fell into the Nooksack River were saved in a multi-agency rescue operation Monday night west of Everson.
All three people are safe, after they were plucked from the river by a Navy helicopter crew and treated by firefighters for mild hypothermia at ambulances parked in a field near north of Nolte and Van Dyk roads. Firefighters found them clinging to tree branches in the fast-moving river, which is fed by summer glacial melt.
“We were able to work life jackets out to them using throw bags,” said Chief Mel Blankers of Whatcom County Fire District 1, a mostly volunteer department serving Everson and Nooksack.
“Our boats were still a ways out, and the Navy said they could be there in under a half-hour,” Blankers said. “I’ve really got to tip my hat to those guys. It was impressive.”
But the Navy came to the rescue in a holy crap that was fast way:
A rescue crew at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station went airborne at 7:45 p.m. and plucked the first victim out of the water at 8:05 p.m., said said Michael Welding, spokesman at NAS Whidbey. He said an “after-action report” documents the rescue, but no crew members were available to be interviewed Tuesday morning.
The air distance between Oak Harbor and here is a bit over 50 air miles (67 by road). To have gotten airborne, flown here, located the victims and to have one of them out of the water in 20 minutes is astounding. That is some fast flying and excellent teamwork!
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