A rare loggerhead turtle has been spotted off the coast of Britain after being blown thousands of miles off course by Hurricane Melissa.
The marine wanderer, which normally lives off the southeastern US coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, stunned passengers aboard a boat near St Ives, Cornwall.
Experts say it’s a highly unusual sighting, as British seas are usually far too chilly for the tropical turtles.
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A Cornwall Wildlife Trust spokesperson said: “Another day, another unusual sighting in Cornish waters!
“Volunteers were amazed to record a loggerhead turtle off St Ives.
“They’re not really supposed to be here – it’s too cool for them.”
Loggerheads sometimes wash up in winter weak or stranded, appearing lifeless after slipping into a cold-water torpor.
But rescuers say they’re often still alive, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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The Trust added: “If found in time, they can be rescued and rehabilitated.
“Even if a turtle looks dead, don’t assume it is.
“Keep it safe, away from dogs and people, and call British Divers Marine Life Rescue.”
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They also warned residents not to put the animal back in the sea, as it could freeze or drown.
The sighting was made by volunteers from Seaquest Sunday, a Cornwall Wildlife Trust project that trains locals to record marine life along the coast.
Loggerheads are rare visitors to European waters – most are found in Florida, which sees more than 67,000 nests built each year.
The storm blamed for the turtle’s detour, Hurricane Melissa, tore through Jamaica and Cuba in October, causing severe destruction and record-breaking winds.
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