Turtle Rescued After Being Taped To Balloons
Woman Who Reported Incident Defends Herself From Criticism
OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Authorities are looking for whoever taped a turtle to several balloons and sent it flying in an Oceanside neighborhood.
The turtle was spotted duct-taped and dangling from balloons that were caught high up in a eucalyptus tree. Some neighbors next door saw what was going on and tried to help the turtle.
“We look up and there’s green and blue balloons up there,” said resident Chanelle Wright. “He was just swinging his arms trying to get out of it. Somebody had taped him to the balloons.”
In the meantime, the turtle hung dangling in the wind. That’s when Joel Rabago’s mother got out her camera and started taking video of the hanging turtle.
“When something like this happens, she always takes the video camera, no matter what it is,” Rabagos said.
The Oceanside Fire Department eventually arrived with a big ladder truck, but as they were about to rescue the turtle, a gust of wind blew him down to earth.