Photos for Headline Surfer / ABOVE: Hailey Monahan, a lifeguard with Beach Safety of Volusia County, holds a 'washback' turtle hatchling rescued in shallow water early Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, along the shoreline in Daytona Beach, Florida. BELOW: A close-up of the hatchling, which was brought to the Marine Science Center in nearby Ponce Inlet, Florida for further care.
By SERA KING / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- One tiny sea turtle got a little extra help this morning after its journey into the ocean brought it back onto the beach and into the arms of a Volusia County Beach Safety lifeguard.
After entering the water, the hatchling was washed back to shore, where lifeguards came to its aid and transported it to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet for further evaluation and care.
Known as a "washback," the phenomenon occurs when waves, winds, or currents carry young sea turtles back to shore after they have entered the ocean. Washbacks may be tired or weakened from their time in the water and may need assistance before they are ready to return to sea.
The rescue comes as Volusia County's record-breaking sea turtle nesting season begins to produce more hatchlings along the coastline. As additional nests hatch, residents and visitors may be more likely to encounter young sea turtles on the beach or near the shoreline.
"While finding a hatchling can be an exciting experience, beachgoers should give it plenty of space and avoid touching, picking up, or attempting to return it to the water," Clayton Jackson, a PIO for Volusia County government, told Headline Surfer in an email media alert.
"A young sea turtle found along the shoreline may be exhausted, disoriented, or otherwise in need of assistance, and trained personnel can determine whether intervention is necessary," Jackson added.
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While finding a hatchling can be an exciting experience, beachgoers should give it plenty of space and avoid touching, picking up, or attempting to return it to the water," Clayton Jackson, a PIO for Volusia County government, told Headline Surfer in an email media alert.
"A young sea turtle found along the shoreline may be exhausted, disoriented, or otherwise in need of assistance, and trained personnel can determine whether intervention is necessary," Jackson added.
Anyone who encounters a hatchling that appears stranded or in distress should notify a Beach Safety lifeguard or other authorized official on the beach.
Beachgoers also may contact the Marine Science Center at 386-304-5545 for assistance. As washback season continues, visitors to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet can see recovering sea turtles while learning about the work that goes into their rescue and rehabilitation.
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