Four friends enjoying a day on Jupiter Sound turned an ordinary boating trip into an act of compassion when they spotted a large sea turtle in distress.

Chris DeSousa, Will Savery, Michael Pickett, and Tony Anthony quickly realized the animal was having trouble swimming. Rather than pass by, they chose to help.

“You know, when you see a beautiful animal like that struggling, it’s just — you can’t just turn your eye away from it, so I jumped in the water right away,” Savery told WPTV. “We saw the opportunity to save an animal, and we took advantage of it.”

Once Savery reached the turtle, he understood the rescue would take teamwork. The green sea turtle, later named Zoey, weighed 324 pounds, making the effort a true group mission.

“It took a big effort from each of us to pull this thing up,” Savery said.

Sea turtles are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, and it is illegal to touch or move them without proper authorization. Wildlife experts generally urge people to contact trained responders immediately when they find an injured turtle.

“Handling sea turtles without proper training and permits is illegal and can cause further harm to the animal,” the Loggerhead Marinelife Center explains on its website. “Turtles, especially those entangled in fishing gear or showing signs of illness, require professional care. Untrained handling can exacerbate their injuries or introduce infections.”

Still, Good Samaritan protocols can allow intervention in rare, urgent situations when an animal is facing a life-or-death emergency.

“You could tell she’d probably been fighting for hours out there,” Anthony emphasized.

Working together, the four men secured a rope around Zoey’s midsection and carefully brought her onto a pier while they waited for help from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Once Zoey was out of the water, her injuries were easier to see. Her shell had deep wounds believed to have been caused by a boat strike. Sadly, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center later reported that she died from her injuries a few hours after the rescue.

Even with that heartbreaking outcome, the kindness shown by Savery, DeSousa, Pickett, and Anthony gave Zoey care, attention, and a fighting chance when she needed it most. The friends said they would step up again if another animal needed help.

“I think [sea turtles] are a staple of our waters,” Savery said. “When there’s an accident that happens with one, we’ve got to do what we can to save them.”

Zoey’s story also highlights an important message for boaters, especially in Florida, where marine life boat strikes become more common during busy summer months.

Just weeks before Zoey was rescued, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center shared another green sea turtle’s story. A juvenile turtle named Aelin arrived at the center after being injured in the intracoastal waterway.

“This juvenile green turtle came to us with brutal injuries from an accidental boat strike in the intracoastal waterway in late March,” the rescue center posted on Instagram.

Aelin’s recovery has brought hope. With dedicated veterinary care, she has been healing and gaining strength.

“Aelin is battling her way through recovery and making great progress thanks to customized care by our team,” the center shared. “After [stabilizing her shell in surgery], Aelin is on the mend and out in one of our larger hospital pools. She is getting regular exams and wound cleaning as she continues to heal.”

The center also offered a simple reminder that can help protect sea turtles and other marine animals.

“Remember to ‘Go Slow for Those Below’ if you are out boating this time of year,” they said. “We can prevent injuries like these just by slowing down and keeping watch for these beautiful turtles.”

Zoey’s rescue is a touching reminder that goodness often appears in the form of people who are willing to act with care, courage, and respect for the natural world.