Three friends freediving in the Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles off the John’s Pass coast on Thursday said they rescued a loggerhead turtle that was entangled in tackle.
- Divers said turtle approached them in the water
- Turtle had hook in its mouth, fishing net tangled around it
“We were out there in about 50 foot of water and a juvenile turtle kept coming and doing circles around us,” said Dylan McClain, 24. “Kept getting closer and closer and eventually he got so close I realized he actually had a hook [in its mouth] and a bunch of fishing line wrapped around its beautiful shell.”
Kerri Gallagher, 23, said she has no doubt the turtle was approaching them for help.
“The way he was approaching us was just a sign, a clear sign, that he needed help,” she said. “It’s not normal to see a baby turtle just coming up like so close to you.”
McClain said the turtle was about four feet in diameter and got close enough for him to grab while another friend, Sean Matthews, removed the hook and line.
“We were able to cut the line off of him and actually get the hook out of his mouth,” said McClain. “We let him go and it was a great experience. It made us happy and I’m sure it made him happy too.”
Gallagher said the turtle seemed grateful and hung around afterwards.
“Once it realized what actually happened, the freedom of the pain, it stayed around,” she said.
McClain said he goes freediving every week and was honored to help out the turtle.
“I love wildlife, I love the ocean and it’s a part of my life,” he said. “So, I was happy to help a friend out.”