‘Knew she was safe’: Loggerhead turtle swims to divers after shark attack on Flynn Reef

An endangered turtle will undergo surgery to have its flipper amputated after it was attacked by a shark off the Great Barrier Reef.

An endangered turtle will undergo surgery to have its flipper amputated after it was attacked by a shark off the Great Barrier Reef.

The 60-year-old female Loggerhead turtle was initially spotted by dive operators near Flynn Reef on March 16.

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre founder Jennie Gilbert said operators kept an eye on the turtle for two weeks.

“Drive crews sent photos daily. They thought she had been attacked by shark. She was staying in one spot which turtles don’t usually do and didn’t seem to rest. Because of the weather conditions, we couldn’t get out there as soon as we wanted to,” Ms Gilbert said.

When a rescue crew arrived on March 23, Ms Gilbert said the turtle, nicknamed Flynn, swam to the divers.

The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre has rescued a large Loggerhead turtle, estimated to be 60 years old, at Flynn Reef, after she was reported by dive operators to have been attacked by a shark. Picture: Brendan Radke

“She had her head in a bit of coral and came out and swam to them. She literally swam between them back to the boat. She was obviously asking for help. I’ve never seen or heard of a turtle doing that,” Ms Gilbert said.

“She wasn’t too happy getting into the boat, but once we got her on board she went straight to sleep in the box. She’s a clever little thing, she knew was in trouble and came out for help.”

Ms Gilbert said Flynn was recovering at the charity’s eduquarium facility at James Cook University, where she was preparing for a partial flipper amputation.

“She’ll be with us for a while because we’re going have to amputate part of her front flipper and a couple other injuries. She’ll be in rehab a long time, but definitely returned to the reef. In the meantime, she’s happy chilling here,” Ms Gilbert said.

The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre has rescued a large Loggerhead turtle at Flynn Reef, after she was reported by dive operators to have been attacked by a shark. Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre volunteer Lisa McArdle and founder Jennie Gilbert is currently caring for the 60 year old Loggerhead Turtle, nicknamed Flynn, at the charity's eduquarium facility at James Cook University. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Gilbert said it was rare for Loggerheads to be sighted this far north, as they were usually found in waters south of Bundaberg.

“Sunshine Coast is a haven for Loggerheads. There are definitely ones around but it’s rare you see them. In the 30 years I’ve dived (in Far North Queensland), I’ve never seen a loggerhead.

It’s a great outcome she was rescued,” she said.

It follows a separate incident where an adult green turtle was found speared off the coast of Green Island in February.

The success rate in returning sick animals to the ocean has jumped from 20-30 per cent to 80 per cent, according to data from the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

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Originally published as ‘Knew she was safe’: Loggerhead turtle swims to divers after shark attack on Flynn Reef