When a badly injured loggerhead turtle named Lenny was discovered struggling to swim off Islamorada, Florida, underwater photographer Mike Papish and his friends sprang into action. After lifting the 322-pound turtle to safety, they brought him ashore and transferred him to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. The team there quickly began treatment, knowing his wounds—likely caused by a large shark—could be life-threatening. Despite losing part of a flipper and suffering deep head wounds, Lenny responded well to antibiotics and supportive care.
Loggerhead sea turtles face steep odds for survival, with only one in 1,000 hatchlings reaching adulthood. That made Lenny’s recovery even more meaningful, representing resilience and hope for his endangered species. Just a few weeks later, Lenny returned to the ocean near Alligator Reef, swimming strong and free. His rescuer captured the moment he looked back one last time—what Papish calls a wave goodbye.
Swimming the Extra Mile
It only took one person noticing something wasn’t right to change the course of Lenny the turtle’s life—and ultimately the next generation of his species. Let this story challenge you to go the extra mile for someone in need. Check out the full story on TODAY!
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