50kg Sea Turtle Saved After Days Stranded Upside Down

Anthony Sharkey was driving along Urunga North Beach in New South Wales when he spotted what looked like a dead turtle lying upside down in the dunes. When he gave her a gentle rub on the cheek, she turned her head toward him, and he knew she needed help fast.

Sharkey carefully flipped the massive turtle over and immediately called the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary. He believes she had been stranded for three or four days after big seas washed her into the dunes among sticks and logs.

The rescue team arrived on April 1 to find concerned beachgoers keeping the turtle wet while they waited. Volunteer rescuer Judy Bartholomew said the female turtle, now nicknamed Ozzy, didn't look well at all when they found her.

Getting Ozzy to safety was no small feat. At 52 kilograms with a shell length of 83 centimeters, it took three people to lift her into the back of a ute. Once at the sanctuary, four rescuers used a specialized sling to carry her to a freshwater recovery tank.

The cool water worked wonders. Ozzy began to revive almost immediately as she rehydrated from her days-long ordeal in the hot sun.

Managing director Tiga Cross determined that Ozzy was suffering from floating syndrome, a condition where trapped gas prevents turtles from diving and feeding properly. Despite her illness, Ozzy was in good body condition, suggesting she hadn't been sick for long.

Sunny's Take

At 30 to 40 years old, Ozzy represents something precious. Only two percent of turtles rescued at the sanctuary are this size and age, making her recovery especially meaningful.

Cross says having three large turtles at the sanctuary right now is almost unheard of. The team is treasuring the opportunity to help these magnificent creatures up close.

Ozzy has already started showing improvement. Her swollen, dry eyes are healing, and rescuers have begun offering her food as she builds her strength back up.

The plan is to release Ozzy back into the ocean around December, after she's had time to resolve the gas buildup and get through the winter months. Then she'll have the chance to breed, which is vital for her species' survival.

One beachside drive and a compassionate gesture gave this ancient turtle decades more to explore the ocean.