Crush the sea turtle gets ticket on Loganair to reach sanctuary – SWNS
On 9 January, large parts of Europe were brought to a standstill as Storm Goretti, a powerful winter cyclone with 110 mph winds, swept into the region from the south.
Soon after, a beachcomber found a young loggerhead turtle washed up on the Island of Jersey near the coast of France after being blown hundreds of miles off course.
The warm-water reptile was “cold stunned”—an immobile condition caused by prolonged exposure to cold water—and quickly brought to a local animal hospital.
Veterinarian Peter Haworth at New Era Hospital was able to stabilize the weak and malnourished sea turtle in a small tank—thanks to warmed seawater provided by The Jersey Oyster Company, but the juvenile turtle needed more space.
A rough voyage across the English Channel to Britain by boat could have caused undue stress for the endangered species, so Peter contacted ‘the friendly skies’ for help getting the rescued turtle a VIP airline ticket.
Named Crush, after the character in Finding Nemo, the sea turtle finally received permission from Loganair to fly as a First Class passenger on a scheduled flight to Southampton, England, where it was picked up and driven 90 miles to its long-term care facility, the SeaLife Centre in Weymouth.
Crush the loggerhead turtle – SWNS
“This was certainly one of the more unusual passengers we’ve welcomed on board,” said Ronnie Matheson, chief commercial officer at Loganair.
“Our teams worked closely with Peter and his colleagues to ensure that she could travel as calmly and comfortably as possible.”
MORE GOOD TURTLE NEWS:
• Sea Turtles Rebounding Worldwide as Nests and Habitat are More Protected in 2025
• Lovelorn Tortoise Found a Year After it Escaped in Search of a Mate at 0.00012mph
• Saved from a Predator’s Jaws, Amputee Turtle Released Back into the Wild with Important Mission – (WATCH)
Dan Townsend, head of airside operations at Southampton Airport, said: “We’re delighted to support this special journey and play a small part in helping this young turtle get the expert care it needs.
“Our teams work closely with airline partners like Loganair to make sure unique animal movements like this one are handled safely and smoothly, and we’re proud to help facilitate its onward recovery.”
CT scans at the Jersey hospital identified a higher than usual amount of sand inside her oesophagus, but some of it was removed to prevent any future blockage—and the SeaLife Centre hopes to release her back into loggerhead habitat range this spring.
SHARE THE INSPIRING RESCUE With Turtle-Lovers on Social Media…
