Watch: Olympic sprinter ran onto a highway to save a tortoise from traffic

Olympic medalist David Verburg sprinted into a busy intersection to save the life of a tortoise crossing the road. His video of his heroics has gone viral.

Just this week we shared the story of two tortoises that had been hit by cars and are recovering well. Now a new tortoise story is going viral. USA Olympic Sprinter David Berburg was driving along a busy highway when he spotted a tortoise in the road, with many large cars just waiting to cross the intersection at a red light.

He had swerved his car to avoid hitting the creature, made a U-turn, parked in a turning lane and ran into the street so he could scoop it into his arms and run back to the vehicle.

He picked it up and ran back to his own car. Shortly after, he found a safe grassy patch and placed the tortoise down safely. He shared the video on Twitter and has received over 4 million views so far.

Tortoises are particularly at risk in springtime, this is when they start to warm up after winter and become sexually active. Motorists should be extra careful on the roads this time of year. They will be seeking out mates and likely to walk across roads where there are vast amounts of nature and open fields.

Tortoises live exceptionally long lives so let’s keep them safe. Stay alert on your next road trip and if you do spot a little shell walking across the road and if it is safe to do so, stop and give them a hand to the other side or caution other vehicles about the animal’s presence.

Take a look at David’s good deed below.