On January 9th, Storm Goretti, a formidable winter cyclone packing winds of up to 110 mph, swept across Europe, causing significant disruptions. Amid the chaos, a beachcomber made a heartwarming discovery on the Island of Jersey, just off the coast of France. They found a young loggerhead turtle, who had been blown off course by the storm and washed ashore after an arduous journey of hundreds of miles.
This warm-water turtle was suffering from a condition known as “cold stunning,” which rendered it immobile due to prolonged exposure to frigid waters. The beachcomber promptly took the turtle to a local animal hospital, where Veterinarian Peter Haworth worked diligently to stabilize the weak and malnourished creature in a specially prepared tank filled with warmed seawater, thanks to the generosity of The Jersey Oyster Company. However, it was clear that the turtle needed a larger space to recover.
To avoid the potential stress of a rough boat ride across the English Channel to Britain, Peter reached out for assistance to transport the turtle more comfortably. The turtle, affectionately named Crush after the beloved character from Finding Nemo, was granted a VIP airline ticket by Loganair, allowing her to travel as a First Class passenger on a scheduled flight to Southampton, England. From there, she was driven the final 90 miles to her long-term care facility, the SeaLife Centre in Weymouth.
Ronnie Matheson, chief commercial officer at Loganair, shared, “This was certainly one of the more unusual passengers we’ve welcomed on board. Our teams collaborated closely with Peter and his colleagues to ensure she could travel as calmly and comfortably as possible.”
Dan Townsend, head of airside operations at Southampton Airport, expressed his delight in supporting this extraordinary journey, saying, “We’re proud to help facilitate its onward recovery. Our teams work hand-in-hand with airline partners like Loganair to ensure unique animal movements like this one are handled safely and smoothly.”
At the Jersey hospital, CT scans revealed an unusual amount of sand lodged inside Crush’s oesophagus. Fortunately, some of the sand was safely removed to prevent future blockages. The SeaLife Centre is optimistic about her recovery and hopes to return her to her natural habitat this spring.
Let’s celebrate this inspiring rescue and share the joy with other turtle lovers on social media!
