A large green sea turtle was rescued by residents after it washed up on the rocks in Christmas Bay on Tuesday morning. Locals were alerted via a residents’ WhatsApp group to call for aid.

The green sea turtle has many names depending on which ocean or part of the world they are found. They are also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle.

A few Good Samaritans managed to move the turtle to the beach and lift it into the ocean. The marine reptile was so heavy, it took five people to move it onto the beach.

“The turtle was released back to the sea, but it struggled to swim through the waves and into the open ocean,” said Christmas Bay resident Rung Button. “It appeared exhausted or injured, and it could not make it through the waves.”

Some rescuers swam out to fetch the struggling turtle and brought it back to the beach. People took turns carrying the turtle up the stairs to wait for the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) to collect the marine reptile.

The ORI arrived to stabilise the turtle and take it back to uShaka Marine World. Residents were messaged that the veterinary team at uShaka did a preliminary examination, and did not think the turtle was badly affected by the ordeal.

A member of the team told residents that they will keep the turtle for a few days to assess when the right time will be to release it.

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