Sometimes animals get themselves stuck in places they shouldn’t be, and need a little human help to get them to safety.So it’s always heartwarming to see people go out of their way to help a creature in need. That was the case recently, when one man stopped a train to save a turtle’s life.
Serhat Topal is a streetcar driver from Turkey. He was on his normal route, when he noticed something out-of-the-ordinary on the tracks: a turtle.“It was a turtle trying to cross the tracks toward the countryside, but he was stuck,” Serhat told The Dodo. “I think he was scared.”
Serhat then did something unusual: he stopped the train, got out, and went out of his way to assist the turtle.
He picked up the animal, preventing it from being driven over by oncoming trains on the tracks, and lifted it over the fence to safety.Serhat stated that the turtle appeared to be in good health and happily strolled away after reaching the other side.
It was the proper thing to do, but anyone who has traveled by rail knows that unexpected delays are not often appreciated.
But, because Turkish people are known for their compassion for stray animals, when Serhat described the issue to them, they understood: the driver said they were “happy because I helped.”
“All living things are our friends, and we should approach them with love,” Serhat explained to The Dodo. “Everyone should regard this as their responsibility. I’ve merely done my job.”