Man Praised for Freeing Sea Turtle From Fishing Net
A man freed a sea turtle tangled in discarded fishing net at Phuket's Layan Beach and released it safely back to sea, sparking calls for action against marine pollution.
PHUKET — A man has been widely praised after rescuing a sea turtle trapped in a discarded fishing net at Layan Beach in Phuket, before safely releasing the animal back into the sea. The heartwarming rescue was shared on 18 July 2026 by the local Facebook page, which posted photos showing the man carefully removing the tangled net from the turtle's body and flippers. The turtle had become entangled in the debris and was unable to move normally after washing ashore at Layan Beach in Choeng Thale subdistrict, Thalang district.
Witnesses watched as the man patiently worked for an extended period to untangle the net without injuring the animal. Once the net had been completely removed, he carried the turtle back to the shoreline and released it into the sea. According to the Facebook post, the turtle appeared to respond to the rescue before quickly making its way back into the water, leaving onlookers impressed by the emotional moment.
The rescue has drawn widespread praise on social media, with many users calling for greater efforts to reduce marine litter and prevent discarded fishing gear from entering the ocean. Environmental advocates have long warned that abandoned nets and ropes pose a serious threat to endangered sea turtles and other marine life, which can become trapped, injured or killed after becoming entangled in the debris.
