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Freud the sea turtle released back into the wild (with video)

 
Susan Coy (front), Florida Aquarium Vet Tech and Sea Turtle Stranding Cooridinator; and Lauren Smith, a UF Veterinarian Intern; lift Freud out of a box to place him in the Gulf off Fred Howard Park Beach. [JIM DAMASKE   |   Times]
Susan Coy (front), Florida Aquarium Vet Tech and Sea Turtle Stranding Cooridinator; and Lauren Smith, a UF Veterinarian Intern; lift Freud out of a box to place him in the Gulf off Fred Howard Park Beach. [JIM DAMASKE | Times]
Published Sept. 23, 2014

Freud, a green sea turtle the Florida Aquarium had been treating in partnership with USF Health for the past year and a half, was released into the wild on Monday.

In a steady rain, Florida Aquarium Vet Tech and Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator Susan Coy and Lauren Smith, a University of Florida Veterinarian intern lifted Freud out of a box and placed him in the Gulf of Mexico, off Fred Howard Park Beach.

Freud was found lethargic, bloated and covered in algae on Navarre Beach in November 2012. He was then transferred to the Florida Aquarium in January.

Suffering from a suspected tear in his lung, Freud was taken to USF Health's Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) facility in December 2013. There, using advanced imaging, it was determined that Freud was suffering from holes in his lung.

Since the diagnosis, the Aquarium staff treated the turtle with antibiotics and good nutrition. Another round of imaging showed that Freud's lung was healed and he was ready for release.

Both the Florida Aquarium and USF Health staff who helped with Freud's rehabilitation were on hand to watch his release.