Flagler Beach police officers help free sea turtle stuck at dune walkover

The turtle's eggs were unharmed.

By Observer Staff
| 7:40 p.m. July 25, 2022

Image from a video on the official Flagler Beach Police Department Facebook page

Palm Coast Observer
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Flagler Beach Police officers helped free a sea turtle that became trapped against a dune walkover after laying its eggs July 16.

Sgt. David Blank and Officer Guy Cozzone found the turtle wedged against the North 15th Street dune walkover, facing landward, at 2:04 a.m. after the department received a call about a sea turtle in distress, according to a post by the department's official Facebook page.

The turtle was "clearly in need of assistance," according to the post.

The officers consulted with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Then they gently coaxed the animal around with the help of John Callahan, a Worcester Fire Department lieutenant, and backed away to let it return to the ocean. View footage here on the FBPD's Facebook page.

The turtle's eggs, laid near the bottom of the walkover, were unharmed.

The Flagler Turtle Patrol monitored the nest the following day, according to the post.

"We 'protect and serve' all in Flagler Beach!," the department posted on its official Facebook page."The North 15th Street dune walkover is open. We ask that you please stay away from the turtle nest."