Kayaking can feel like stepping into a quiet world, where calm water and open skies create space for simple, peaceful moments. At the same time, nature has a way of surprising you when you least expect it.
Carolina Diz and her partner, Brittany, set out for a relaxing paddle in Central Missouri, expecting nothing more than a peaceful day outdoors. Instead, their trip took an unexpected turn that transformed their outing into a rescue.
The moment began when they spotted something unusual along the muddy shoreline, a wooden box partially buried and out of place.
A Curious Find
As they paddled across the lake, Carolina and Brittany noticed the unusual box lodged in the mud. Intrigued, they steered closer to investigate.
Then, something inside moved.
“Oh, it’s moving”, Carolina said.
Their curiosity turned to alarm. Whatever was inside was alive, though completely covered in mud and difficult to identify.
They waited, watching closely as the shape slowly became clearer. To their surprise, it was a turtle.
Carolina was puzzled. The opening of the box was far too small for the turtle’s size.
“OK, he’s too big to fit through that opening, which means he must have gotten in when the water was still high, and now he’s stuck,” Carolina told The Dodo.
Carolina, who had worked on turtle-related media projects, understood the urgency. The water level had dropped, leaving the turtle stranded. With cold weather setting in, the turtle needed to return to the lake quickly.
“I’ve worked on many turtle videos, so I knew that turtles need to be in water to survive through the winter,” Carolina added.
More Than One Life To Save
Realizing they had to act fast, Carolina and Brittany tried to move the box, but it was too heavy. Using a kayak paddle, they carefully scooped the turtle out of the mud.
Just as they thought the rescue was complete, they noticed more movement.
There was another turtle. Then another. And another.
Altogether, four turtles had been trapped inside the box.
The kayakers gently placed each one at the lake’s edge, giving them the chance to return to their natural habitat.
One by one, the turtles began their slow but determined journey back into the water.
“It was amazing to see that they all instinctively knew to go straight back into the lake,” Carolina concluded.
Thanks to Carolina and Brittany’s quick thinking and compassion, four turtles were given a second chance at life in the wild.
