BELLEAIR BEACH, Fla. — A Pinellas family saved nearly 50 baby turtles from being run over on Gulf Boulevard Thursday evening.
- Turtles might have been confused by artificial lighting
- 45 baby loggerhead turtles saved
- Turtles safely released by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Friday morning
- More Good News stories
"It was just the greatest experience of my life and we're so thankful to be here," said Heather Fox.
Fox and her family performed the rescue on Belleair Beach. The hatchlings came from a nest and, instead of going to the water, went towards the roadway.
Thirteen-year-old Abby Fox said she first spotted one of the hatchlings in the intersection of Gulf Boulevard and saved it. That's when other family members saw more hatchlings headed the same way and scooped them up, as well.
In total, the family retrieved 45 baby loggerhead turtles.
Heather told us she believes the turtles were confused by artificial lighting.
"The lights on this end of the street are really bright and white, and so when they hatched they went towards the building light instead of going towards the ocean," she explained.
Ten-year-old Madden Fox said rescuing the hatchlings is an experience he'll never forget.
"It was so cool, just seeing some turtles and how we rescued them," Madden said.
"I'm so proud of them," Heather said, talking about Abby and Madden. "My children love marine life and this has been my daughter's dream, to be a marine biologist."
Clearwater Marine Aquarium came out Friday morning and safely released the turtles.