Alabama fishing crew thought they spotted a sea turtle in the middle of the sea — what they rescued instead left them heartbroken

Fishing trips often come with surprises, but one Alabama charter crew experienced something far beyond what they expected. Out on the Gulf of Mexico, the team set sail to catch fish, unaware that their day would soon turn into an unexpected rescue mission. What started as a normal outing quickly shifted when they spotted something unusual moving in the water, something that clearly didn’t belong there.

As reported by Fox 29 News, Steve Crews, owner and captain of Still Flyin Charters in Orange Beach, Alabama, said the crew was out on July 29, 2020, when they noticed something struggling in the water just outside Perdido Pass. “Our catch of the day. Poor little guy was sucked out by the tide,” the rescuers wrote on Facebook. At first, the crew thought it was a sea turtle, but they quickly realized it was a small kitten floundering in the Gulf. The crew acted immediately, scooping the drenched animal into the boat and helping it stay afloat while they worked to get it safely aboard.

Once the kitten was on board, the crew dried and comforted it, allowing it to recover from the ordeal. Crews said he did not know how the cat ended up in the water, but believed it might have been a feral cat swept in by the tide. “He was struggling to stay up,” read the Facebook post. The little animal meowed softly as they cared for it, and the crew later tried to place it in a new home. However, the kitten was skittish and refused to go with anyone, so Crews and his wife decided to look after it themselves for the time being.

The couple had not decided on a name for their new feline guest. Steve had suggested “Sharkbite,” while his wife had preferred “Lucky,” according to Action News Jax. The crew shared on Facebook that moments like these are rare on fishing trips, “Can’t say you see that every day.” The kitten was reportedly doing well, safe from the tide and receiving care in a loving home.

Thanks to some good Samaritans like Crews, many stranded animals are rescued and given a second chance at life. In another incident, photographer Wesley White found a starving puppy abandoned near a mangrove fishing shack on a remote island in Belize. While kayaking to a nearby island, he stopped for a quick meal and spotted the small dog struggling in the shade. “The moment I found the puppy was surreal. Resting in the shade of mangroves, I suddenly noticed a sweet, wiggling puppy on an abandoned fishing shack.

Seeing him without food or water, I felt an overwhelming urge to help,” White shared. He quickly brought the puppy, later named Winston, back to the mainland, working with Dr. Mia, the local humane society, and resort staff to ensure proper care. After nearly two months in foster care, Winston was healthy enough to join White permanently. Years later, Winston continues to thrive as a calm, loving member of White’s family.