Jetskiers Rescue 100kg Sea Turtle Named Princess Peach

Andrew Eslick thought he was about to show his jetski tour group a tragic sight when he spotted a green sea turtle motionless on Maud Bay beach at Magnetic Island, Australia. But when he reached out to touch her head, the giant turtle opened her eyes.

The animal was alive but in serious trouble. Her shell had turned soft and was peeling off in bloody patches like wet paper, revealing severe infection lesions across her body.

Eslick asked his tour group if they wanted to pause their adventure to attempt a rescue of the 100-kilogram turtle. Every single person said yes.

The team retrieved a lifeguard ski from a nearby area and worked together to carefully lift the massive creature onto the board. They secured her with straps and ropes for the journey back to Horseshoe Bay, where Magnetic Island Network for Turtles staff were waiting.

Eslick's three-year-old son, caught up in a "Mario phase," dubbed their patient Princess Peach. The name stuck.

At the rehabilitation clinic, coordinator Lily Donnelly examined the turtle and estimated she's between 50 and 80 years old. Despite the alarming shell infection, Princess Peach is otherwise healthy and responding well to treatment.

Sunny's Take

This isn't even Eslick's first turtle rescue. Just six months earlier, he saved another sea turtle named Betty and brought her to the same clinic. When he arrived with Princess Peach, staff joked that each turtle he brings them keeps getting bigger.

The rehabilitation team expects Princess Peach to recover in under 12 weeks. They're keeping her treatment period as short as possible to maintain her wild instincts before releasing her back into the ocean.

Once healed, Princess Peach will receive an identification tag as required by Queensland government regulations. Donnelly encourages snorkelers who spot tagged turtles to take photos and report them, helping track rehabilitated animals and monitor their progress in the wild.

For Eslick, the rescue exemplified what his island community stands for. "That's what we're all about on the island, making sure we look after the water and look after our animals in this area," he said.

Princess Peach is eating well and her shell is healing nicely at the clinic where dedicated volunteers are giving her a second chance at life.