Last Friday, the NSRI Ballito team came to the rescue of a sea turtle that was entangled in fishing nets; they saved it and delivered it safely to uShaka Marine World, where it is recovering.
Ballito, South Africa (28 November 2022) – Quentin Power, the NSRI Ballito duty coxswain, share a happy update about a sea turtle rescue thanks to the collaboration of the NSRI Ballito, Kwadakuza lifeguards and Ballito Specialised Rescue.
They got the call on Friday, 25 November and responded to Tinley Manor, along the Ballito coastline. The team had been alerted to travel to the tidal pool out front, where a sea turtle was trapped in fishing nets off-shore.
The sea turtle was in bad shape and needed urgent assistance. Thanks to the collaboration of all the sea rescue networks, the turtle was saved in time.
“Kwadakuza lifeguards, using Malibu Rescue Boards, paddled out to the turtle that was found to be trapped in fishing nets and fishing line, in distress and with fishing line ingested appearing to be blocking it’s airways.
Lifeguards were able to cut the sea turtle free from the entrapment and although still entangled in fishing line and netting they brought the turtle to shore.
The KZN Marine Animal Stranding Network were alerted.
The sea turtle was brought to above the high water mark where fishing nets and fishing line were removed from the turtle. The turtle was loaded onto a medical spine board and carried to the parking area and loaded into a Ballito Specialised Rescue vehicle before being transported to uShaka Marine World where vets took over treatment.”
Quentin Power confirmed that the sea turtle was recovering at uShaka Marine World.
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