The sub-adult, male hawksbill turtle was found nearly dead on Shellharbour beach. The person who found the animal poured water over its head and it moved its flippers, but was profoundly weak and lethargic. The animal was transported to Taronga Wildlife Hospital where it was found to have erythematous skin, extensive carapace algae, numerous erosions on its plastron and large skin erosion on the top of its head.