Fishermen rescued a sea turtle that washed ashore in a ghost net on Christmas Day.

The locals found the marine animal stuck inside the trash when it was pushed by strong waves to the beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand, on December 25.

Footage shows the residents using a cleaver to cut through the blue strings of the net and free the reptile.

One of the good Samaritans carried it back into the water, and it excitedly waddled to reach the sea.

Most sea turtle species are considered endangered or threatened. Out of the seven existing sea turtle species, six are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to habitat destruction, illegal hunting and trade, and pollution.