An overturned turtle jammed in between rocks on a beach in Oman was saved when a British couple noticed the flailing animal.

Marine ecologist Charlotte Young, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales and living in Bristol with boyfriend George Chislett, now travels the world conducting marine research working in the Persian Golf Region, spotted the adult female turtle, on her way back from laying eggs, during a walk to see turtle hatchlings.

The couple made a fruitless 30-minute rescue attempt before using a piece of wood to lever the heavy animal to the safety of the sea in the Ras Al-Jinz area.

Charlotte wrote on her Instagram: "Never have I ever felt such a sense of sheer joy and overwhelming urge to cry in a moment. We watched her disappear back into the sea and watched the sunrise whilst we caught out breath and digested what we had just achieved."

The rescue took place on July 1.

My boyfriend and I found a female green turtle pinned between two rocks on a morning walk in Oman to see turtle hatchlings. We painstakingly tried to free her for 30 mins before a light bulb moment when we found some wood and finally managed to get her out. She then returned to the sea.

Charlie working in Saudi Arabia