Sunset Beach firefighters rescue sea turtle

Two Sunset Beach firefighters, Scott Bookout and Henry Klutz recued a sea turtle near the Sunset Beach Pier last Friday. The turtle was swimming in the area around the Sunset Beach Pier when it became entangled in fishing line.
According to Carmel Zetts, coordinator of the Sunset Beach Turtle Watch program, someone called her to report a turtle in distress near the pier. She assessed the situation and realized the turtle was caught.
“It couldn’t go forward, it couldn’t go backward. It couldn’t go any which ways. It would have starved to death or drowned,” Zetts said.
She called the Sunset Beach Fire Department to assist.
Bookout and Klutz responded in the fire department’s boat to rescue the turtle. When they attempted to lift it from the water, they realized it was too entangled.
“The filament was probably wrapped around a pole that was stuck in the ground,” Zetts said.
Bookout got into the water and swam to the turtle. He cut the line from around the turtle’s flipper and swam the turtle back to the boat.
Zetts then took the turtle to the Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Beach where it will be assessed and rehabilitated. According to Zetts, the line had almost cut through the turtle’s flipper.
Zetts says she believes the turtle will live.
“I’m sure it will be OK, but it will take some time,” she said.
The rescued sea turtle was a Kemp Ridley, which is not common in this area. They are found mostly in the waters around the Gulf of Mexico. Only three Kemp Ridleys have nested in North Carolina, but none of those were in Brunswick County.

Photo contributed

Scott Bookout, left, and Henry Klutz rescue a Kemp Ridley sea turtle near the Sunset Beach Pier last Friday.

photo contributed

Scott Bookout and Henry Klutz take the Sunset Beach Fire Department's boat out to assist the endangered turtle.

photo contributed

Henry Klutz examines the turtle once it has been brought to the shore.

photo contributed

Scott Bookout swims back to the boat with the turtle. Henry Klutz mans the boat.