Bay turtle rescue drama sadly fails
THE sight of a large turtle battling to swim close to the surf zone at Newark Beach on Saturday morning galvanised nature lovers into action.
The creature was seen to be struggling to swim, with one side of its carapace (shell) continually breaking above the water’s surface.
It moved from close to the northern breakwater towards the short pier then back again as it seemed to be trying to reach the beach.
A number of spectators moved down to the beach where local resident and open water swimmer Richard Millar ventured into the powerful waves and swam out to the injured creature, despite wearing baggy Bermuda shorts hardly appropriate for a tough 100m swim.
Noticing what appeared to be shark bite marks and aware of the power of the turtle’s jaws and teeth and the possibility a shark might still be in the vicinity - Richard headed back to shore and a decision was made to summon the lifeguards.
By this time, Ezemvelo marine scientists, EKZN honorary officers and a local vet were on standby lest the creature would need to be transferred to Ushaka for specialised treatment.
Professional lifeguard Lucas ‘Shaka’ Masinga first swam out armed with a rope and rescue buoy but had to abandon that attempt, and then paddled out on a Malibu board, but battled for about 20 minutes trying to secure a ‘tow line’ in the choppy water.
The turtle, meanwhile, was growing increasingly weaker in its movements and eventually drifted into the white water. Fellow lifeguard Daniel Lubanyana swam into the surf and was joined by Millar, the pair successfully bringing it to the beach where willing hands lifted it onto the sand, where it was determined that the turtle was dead.
Photos sent to Ezemvelo Scientific Services regional ecologist Santosh Bachoo determined that the casualty was an adult female green turtle. Given the size, she could have been as much as 50 years old. Sadly, the creature’s last resting place would be a municipal dump site rather than on the bed of the blue ocean she had travelled.