Colin Steinberger, a North Shore lifeguard and Unit 15 member, was alerted to a honu in distress when it got caught up in a fisherman’s line. With multiple hooks attached, the fisherman didn’t want to cause further damage by cutting the line free.
Even though lifeguards contact NOAA or the DLNR for wildlife emergencies, Steinberger knew this was one situation that required immediate action.
In an interview with Hawaii News Now, Steinberger recounted the rescue and how he struggled to hold onto the turtle initially: “I grabbed it first and it pulled, broke free and twisted.” After two divers came to assist, they were able to start helping the turtle, which had ended up some 250 yards away by jump rock.
“We swam it up to the surface to let it breath because it was down low and struggling,” said Steinberger. Then they swam it to shore where the fisherman untangled the line and set it free.
A crowd had formed to witness the rescue, including Matisse Conn-Parent, who told HNN, “The lifeguard was amazing. He was not going to give up.”