She was too weak to get out on her own 😰
Earlier this week, as waves crashed along Santa Lucea Beach in Florida, beachgoers made an unusual discovery. Among the jagged rocks lining the shore, they noticed a displaced boulder that seemed out of place – round and smooth, unlike the surrounding sharp rocks. To their surprise, it was moving.
Upon closer inspection, the curious beachgoers realized it was a beached sea turtle. Tragically, the turtle had become trapped in the dangerous rock formations. They quickly alerted Martin County first responders, who swiftly arrived on the scene.
Teams from Martin County Fire Rescue (MCFR), Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came together to assist the distressed turtle. They discovered she was a loggerhead, exhausted after struggling to free herself from the rocks following her nesting journey.
According to MCSO’s Facebook post, “The beautiful mama loggerhead came ashore to lay eggs and tried to return to the water through a narrow passage in the rocks, only to become trapped and weakened in her efforts.”
Exhausted from laying eggs and becoming trapped between rocks, the mother turtle had depleted her energy. Fortunately, a dedicated team of rescuers stepped in to assist.
Armed with rescue equipment, the team carefully lifted the helpless turtle from the rocky crevice.
“Using straps and a rescue board, first responders safely transported her back to the sandy shore,” MCFR detailed on Facebook.
After being lifted onto the sand, the sea turtle quickly regained her composure. Her concerned rescuers watched with relief as she joyfully crawled back to the ocean.
“She was safely returned to the water without any issues,” MCSO confirmed.
The teams celebrated their successful rescue before dispersing to handle other local emergencies. Although they haven’t encountered the sea turtle since, they take comfort in knowing she’s back where she belongs.
While rescue operations come with risks, the team of first responders involved in saving this sea turtle were thrilled that everything went smoothly.
“What a fantastic start to the week!” MCSO exclaimed.