A motorist and their partner driving along Bruce Highway in Innisfail, Queensland, rescued a small turtle that was crossing the road while being attacked by a flock of birds.

Ebriony Rawlins filmed as she picked up the from the middle of the bust highway.

"My partner and I were travelling through the town of Innisfail when I spotted a small turtle in the middle of the road being attacked by a group of birds. There were cars everywhere as it is a main intersection through the Bruce Highway," she said.

Rawlins is heard shouting, "don't bite me," as she lifts up the reptile from the tarmac.

The filmer told Newsflare: "I quickly ran over and the turtle lunged at me multiple times trying to bite me! I had to act fast so that I didn't get bitten by the turtle and also because this was in the middle of the highway and there was so much traffic.

"I picked him up from behind so he couldn't bite me, and we proceeded to drive the turtle down the road to where a waterway and vegetation is present.

"This was about 250 metres away from where we first spotted him on the highway and is also the only waterway and vegetation around which means the turtle would have walked all the way up the road and then onto the highway.

"This is in the middle of town so I cannot imagine the turtle would have come from anywhere else.

"I got out of the car and walked into the drain/waterway and felt very nervous as this is well-known saltwater crocodile territory, but I wanted to ensure that the turtle was placed as close to the water as possible so that he did not find his way back to the road.

"As soon as I placed him down, he scurried off back to safety.

"Later on, I conducted some research and found out the turtle I encountered was a Krefft’s River turtle, a common turtle found in Tropical North Queensland waterways.

"I am thankful that we were there at the right moment to save the turtle from any harm."

This footage was filmed on March 9.

Rescuing a turtle from the middle of the Bruce Highway and it tries to BITE me!

My partner and I were traveling through the town of Innisfail, QLD, Australia when I spotted a small turtle in the middle of the road being attacked by a group of birds. There were cars everywhere as it is a main intersection through the Bruce Highway.

My partner was driving so I quickly told him to pull over but there was so much traffic we had to keep driving until it was safe to turn around. I was so worried during these moments that the turtle would be crushed by oncoming traffic but thankfully by the time we pulled over into Gordon street, a side street coming off the Bruce Highway, he was still okay.

I quickly ran over and the turtle lunged at me multiple times trying to bite me! I had to act fast so that I didn't get bitten by the turtle and also because this was in the middle of the highway and there was so much traffic.

I picked him up from behind so he couldn't bite me, and we proceeded to drive the turtle down the road to where a waterway and vegetation is present. This was about 250metres away from where we first spotted him on the highway and is also the only waterway and vegetation around which means the turtle would have walked all the way up the road and then onto the highway. This is in the middle of town so I cannot imagine the turtle would have come from anywhere else.

I got out of the car and walked into the drain/waterway and felt very nervous as this is well-known saltwater crocodile territory, but I wanted to ensure that the turtle was placed as close to the water as possible so that he did not find his way back to the road.

As soon as I placed him down, he scurried off back to safety.

Later on, I conducted some research and found out the turtle I encountered was a Krefft’s River turtle (Emydura macquarii krefftii) a common turtle found in Tropical North Queensland waterways.

I am thankful that we were there at the right moment to save the turtle from any harm.