Royal Navy sailors help save Caribbean turtles

Portsmouth-based patrol vessel HMS Medway transported the turtles to the Azores

The crew of a Royal Navy warship have released six rare turtles back into the wild after they washed up on UK shores.

The juvenile turtles were swept from the Caribbean or along the US east coast by strong winds and Atlantic currents, becoming "cold-stunned" near the British coast, experts said.

Four of the loggerhead turtles were found along the Cornish coast, one was found in Devon and another was rescued at Anglesey in Wales.

Portsmouth-based patrol vessel HMS Medway transported the turtles to the Azores islands, where they were released having been cared for by Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium and Anglesey Sea Zoo.

The turtles were dropped back into the Atlantic

The turtles were named Jason, Perran, Gordon, Hayle, Holly, and Tonni.

Of the turtles rescued in Cornwall, Jason and Perran were found at Perranporth, Gordon at Bude and Hayle at Hayle.

Holly was found on Putsborough beach in Devon and Tonni was rescued at Moel-y-Don beach at Anglesey.

Experts believe the turtles would have died had they not been rescued.

They were dropped back into the sea by the ship's crew, who had gathered on the flight deck to watch.

Experts believe the turtles would have died had they not been rescued

Rod Jones, the Royal Navy's senior maritime environmental protection advisor, said: "As professional mariners, many of us are keen to do what we can to reduce the loss of biodiversity at sea.

"Encountering marine wildlife is one of the great joys of seafaring and if we can assist, even in a small way, to make that more likely in the future we are pleased to be able to do that."

'Grateful'

Steve Matchett, group curator for Blue Reef Aquarium, said the turtles were found in a weakened state.

"In many cases we were unsure if they were going to make it overnight," he said.

"All were dehydrated and emaciated. This is due to being too cold for a long period and being unable to feed/function properly.

"They have all prospered once we got them past the initial stages.

"We are very grateful to the Navy for stepping in to repatriate these rescued turtles."