A Florida Runner Helped Save a Cold-Stunned Sea Turtle — and Months Later, He Swam Home

What began as a simple beach run became an unforgettable rescue story for Florida local Clara Macciocchi.

On February 6, Macciocchi was jogging along the shore when she noticed a green sea turtle washed up near the waves. The turtle was struggling, and Macciocchi quickly understood that something was wrong.

“That is not normal, and I need to call someone,” she said in a TikTok video documenting the moment.

She contacted the Clearwater Marine Aquarium animal helpline, where staff asked her to remain with the turtle until sea turtle stranding coordinators could reach the beach.

“I’m just going to stay here to make sure no one messes with her,” Macciocchi said.

As the waves continued to roll in, the turtle tried to make its way back into the water. But its flippers appeared weak, and soon it became increasingly lethargic.

“She’s really having trouble; I don’t know what to do,” Macciocchi said.

Recognizing the urgency of the moment, Macciocchi made the careful decision to move the turtle a short distance away from the water.

“I think this is illegal, but I think I have to grab her,” she said.

In the United States, sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which generally makes it illegal to touch them. Still, wildlife experts have noted that emergency situations can call for immediate help.

“Basically, if it's gonna be a life-or-death situation for that turtle, we can deputize people to pick it up and hold onto it for us. That is legal,” Andrew Orgill, a sea turtle specialist and staff supervisor at the Amos Rehabilitation Keep, has advised. “There's a Good Samaritan act as well.”

Macciocchi stayed calm and trusted her instincts.

“Had to go with my gut on this one,” she said. “I’m just going to wait it out with my little buddy here.”

When she spoke again with rescuers from Clearwater Marine Aquarium, they reassured her that she had made the right choice.

“They told me to keep her on shore,” she said.

For more than three hours, Macciocchi remained beside the turtle as temperatures dropped and daylight faded. Even as the beach grew colder, she stayed committed to keeping the animal safe.

“I’m literally shivering; it’s so cold,” she said.

A friend eventually arrived with blankets, coats, and pizza, bringing warmth and comfort to the long wait. Then, at last, flashlights appeared in the dark: the Clearwater Marine Aquarium team had arrived.

“Help is on the way!” Macciocchi cheered. “I’m sad to say goodbye, but after three hours, I hope she feels better soon.”

The rescuers wrapped the turtle in a blanket and prepared to transport it for care.

“She’ll be in a warm tank tonight,” one staff member said.

Macciocchi later learned that the turtle she had found was one of more than 30 sea turtles affected by a cold snap that week. Fifteen recovered quickly and were released on February 10, while others needed additional rehabilitation — including the turtle Macciocchi had stayed with on the beach.

The turtle remained on her mind, so Macciocchi visited Clearwater Marine Aquarium to check in. There, she learned that her sea turtle friend was actually male.

“The biologists say he’s doing well, but they still have to test his foraging skills in deep water to make sure he can be released,” she said on February 12.

The aquarium named him Ladon and placed him among other cold-stunned turtles named after figures from Greek mythology, including Gaia, Eros, Hermes, Jupiter, and Cyclops.

On March 13, Macciocchi shared another update after visiting Ladon again.

“He was a very sick little guy, unfortunately,” she explained. “They said he’s on antibiotics right now because he probably has a high white blood cell count.”

Even with that setback, Ladon continued improving. His care team waited for strong bloodwork results before clearing him for release.

Then, on May 28, the joyful day arrived: Ladon returned to the wild. He was released with Hermes, another green sea turtle rescued during the same February cold snap.

“Both green sea turtles were cleared for release by our veterinarian and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC),” the Clearwater Marine Aquarium said in a Facebook post. “We are thrilled to see these turtles healthy and back home in the wild!”

For the many people who followed Ladon’s journey, the release was a beautiful ending to a story that began with one person choosing to care.

“You saved his life,” one TikTok user wrote beneath the original video. “Thank you.”

“Most people would not have stayed that long or cared,” another commented. “Thank you, Clara.”

“This is probably the first time in history a documented case of a green sea turtle experienced a pizza party on the beach,” someone else joked. “So that’s pretty historic.”