Runner Saves Trapped Sea Turtle at Florida Beach

Sage Lajoie's morning run at Bonsteel Beach Park turned into a life-saving mission when she spotted a female sea turtle buried beneath a wooden beach crossover, unable to free itself to return to the ocean.

Lajoie immediately started digging with her bare hands before calling the Sea Turtle Preservation Society for help. The rescue held deep personal meaning for her because she discovered a trapped turtle in the same area last year that died before rescuers could arrive.

"I have been absolutely torn up," Lajoie said about the previous loss. "I felt like it was my responsibility to find her."

That heartbreak motivated Lajoie to make checking beneath beach crossovers part of her daily running routine during nesting season. Her vigilance paid off when volunteers arrived and successfully freed the trapped turtle.

Communications Director Joel Cohen said Lajoie's quick actions likely saved the animal's life. The turtle rested on the beach for about 30 minutes while volunteers cooled it with wet towels before it safely returned to the ocean.

Sunny's Take

This story shows how one person's grief can transform into action that saves lives. Lajoie turned her sadness over losing one turtle into a daily commitment to prevent it from happening again.

Cohen emphasized that beach crossovers have become a recurring hazard for nesting sea turtles in Brevard County, but the problem has a simple solution. Installing wooden slats across the front of crossovers costs very little and prevents turtles from crawling underneath and getting trapped.

"It's a human cause," Cohen said. "The humans can fix it."

The Sea Turtle Preservation Society has already helped some private residences install the modifications at low cost. Cohen encourages all beachgoers to check beneath crossovers during nesting season and call immediately if they spot a turtle in distress.

Lajoie's dedication proves that paying attention to our environment and acting quickly can make all the difference for vulnerable wildlife right in our own neighborhoods.