A turtle quickly swam away as it was released back into the sea.

Environmental police discovered the turbo-charged turtle tangled in nets reportedly set up by black market fishermen in Penha, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Footage released by its rescuers shows the moment the police marine patrol set the animal free on September 11 in the South Atlantic Ocean.

As one officer grasped the marine creature firmly by its shell, he lowered it into the sea and held on for a few seconds before releasing it.

The turtle swiftly darted away, propelling itself at such high speed that it inadvertently slapped its rescuer with one of its flippers as it dove beneath the waves.

Police later removed two 150-metre stretches of fixed fine mesh nets less than 50 metres from the coast.

The region is known for its rich marine biodiversity and is a natural refuge for several turtle species, including the green turtle or Chelonia mydas.

Ghost nets - often cut loose from fishing trawlers - are one of the biggest threats to marine life.

Thousands of animals suffer from ghost nets, one of the biggest threats to marine life and other debris scattered in the oceans.

According to UNESCO's Facts & Figures on Marine Pollution, more than one million marine animals, including mammals, fish, sharks, turtles, and birds, are killed each year due to plastic debris in the ocean.