Underwater Photographer Saves Giant Sea Turtle After Savage Shark Attack
A loggerhead sea turtle named Lenny is back where he belongs — in the open ocean — after surviving a harrowing shark attack and a race-against-the-clock rescue in the Florida Keys. Lenny, estimated to weigh 322 pounds, was found drifting and clearly in distress near Alligator Reef off Islamorada in mid-March.
Underwater photographer Mike Papish spotted the turtle while diving with friends from Sundance WaterSports. Lenny’s face showed visible trauma. One front flipper was badly damaged. He could barely move.
Papish and his crew acted quickly. They carefully lifted the massive reptile onto their boat and called for help. It wasn’t just any rescue — Lenny was an endangered species, and his survival mattered. They brought him ashore and waited for the Turtle Hospital’s unique ambulance to arrive.
A 300-pound sea turtle named Lenny was nearly killed by a shark near Islamorada.
Specialists Step In
Lenny was rushed to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, the only nonprofit in Florida dedicated solely to rehabilitating sea turtles. Inside its shaded, saltwater tanks and surgery suites, specialists began immediate treatment.
The hospital’s manager, Bette Zirkelbach, and veterinarian Dr. Terry Norton administered fluids and antibiotics. They cleaned his wounds and monitored his condition around the clock.
The attack cost Lenny a portion of his front flipper and left scars across his head. But he was alive. And that mattered a great deal.
Lenny was taken to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida.
Why One Turtle Matters
Loggerhead turtles like Lenny are considered a vulnerable species and protected under CITES Appendix I. Their numbers have declined due to a range of human-caused threats — entanglement in fishing gear, plastic pollution, habitat destruction, and vessel strikes.
“Only two loggerhead nesting beaches have greater than 10,000 females nesting per year: South Florida and Oman,” according to recent studies cited by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
That makes South Florida a key stronghold for these ancient mariners. Lenny’s age is estimated to be six or seven decades. Surviving long enough to reproduce gives him outsized importance in maintaining the fragile population.
Underwater photographer Mike Papish found Lenny struggling to stay afloat.
Road to Recovery
For several weeks, Lenny healed under the watchful care of hospital staff. With 23 recovery tanks and a massive 100,000-gallon tidal pool, the facility is built for these critical moments, according to PetaPixel.
As he regained strength, staff prepared for release. The goal: get Lenny back to the wild as soon as he could safely swim.
A Return to the Reef
On March 25, Lenny was taken back to Alligator Reef — the same stretch of water where his ordeal began. His rescuer, Mike Papish, dove alongside him to capture the moment.
The giant turtle slipped below the waves and disappeared into the blue.
It was a rare, hopeful moment for a species that faces mounting pressure. Lenny’s story is not just a feel-good rescue — it’s a reminder of what’s at stake. Every mature turtle that survives matters. Every rescue counts.
