Texas turtles rescued during winter storm released to the sea

Large-scale rescue mission helped save nearly 5,000 turtles from plummeting temperatures

Thousands of turtles will be released into the sea after being rescued during a record-breaking winter storm that rocked Texas and other US states.

The dropping temperatures led to a rescue mission to save the animals after they were found to be cold-stunned and unable to swim or feed. Volunteers brought nearly 5,000 turtles to the South Padre Island Convention Centre, where they were kept in tubs and enclosures to raise their body temperatures.

Now, with the weather warming again and the water temperatures reaching a safe level for the turtles, they are being released into the wild.

Groups such as Sea Turtle Inc are releasing the turtles into the Gulf of Mexico down blue wet slides. So far, about 200 turtles have been released .