Watch the video: 1770 LARC! Tours crew help release green sea turtle at Agnes Water

After defying the odds and overcoming over a deadly disease, one green sea turtle is back where he belongs thanks to the good deeds of Agnes Waters residents. Watch the video.

It’s a deadly condition that can cause many turtles to starve to death, but one turtle has defied the odds.

Geordie the Green Turtle has been released back into the wild at Agnes Water after an arduous 65 day recovery from floating syndrome.

The health issue is caused by a build-up of gas in the turtle’s body, which can happen after the animal eats things like marine debris that blocks its gastrointestinal tract and prevents food from being digested properly.

The gas build-up keeps the turtle afloat and unable to dive for food, making it more vulnerable to predators and boat traffic.

Geordie was spotted floating a number of times over the September school holidays by 1770 LARC! Tours crew members, including owner Neil Mergard, near the Eurimbula National Park shoreline.

Geordie the Green Sea Turtle was able to be released into the wild after recovering from float syndrome.

Geordie was then taken to the Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and a local school, who had fundraised for the centre, chose her name.

His progress yo-yoed, showing good signs of improvement, while also having a few bumps along the way.

He eventually passed the blockage of undigested mangroves.

Experts at the centre said Geordie’s illness was potentially caused by the diminishing of local seagrass fields from recent flooding and rain.

Seagrass is the main food source for green sea turtles, and the diminished fields have forced them to find other sources of food such as mangroves and algae.

However, they can only survive on that diet for a short time as it does not hold enough nutrients.

The Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre averages 30-40 turtle patients a year, but this year it has attended to more than 100 sick and injured turtles.

Mr Mergard said the team felt “very strongly” about protecting their backyard.

“We have great privilege in our destination, visiting magnificent national parks, and clean, safe waterways. Our whole team feels very strongly about protecting our backyard and all that lives within it,” the tourism operator said.

“Not just on tour, but in everyday life. By sharing Geordie’s journey, we would like to raise awareness in the community about what is happening around us and the hard work by people in places like Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.”

Geordie was released on December 7 with the help of the 1770 LARC! Tours crew and some lucky tour guests.