Sometimes animals find themselves trapped in places they shouldn’t be and need a little human assistance to reach safety.

It’s always heartwarming to see people go out of their way to help an animal in need. That was the case recently when a man halted a train to save a turtle’s life.

Serhat Topal, a streetcar driver from Turkey, was following his usual route when he noticed something unusual 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.”

Then, Serhat took extraordinary action: he halted the train, disembarked, and went out of his way to assist the turtle.

He carefully lifted the animal, ensuring it wouldn’t be endangered by passing trains on the tracks, and gently carried it over the fence to safety.

According to Serhat, the turtle appeared healthy and happily walked away after reaching the other side.

It was the right thing to do, though anyone who has commuted by train knows that passengers don’t always appreciate unexpected delays.

However, Turkey is known for its citizens’ love for stray animals. When Serhat explained the situation, the passengers understood: they were “happy because I helped,” he said.

“All living things are our friends, and we should approach them with love,” Serhat told The Dodo. “Everyone should consider this their duty. I have simply done my duty.”

Thank you to this good samaritan for going out of the way to help this turtle! We agree, its our duty to look out for our friends in nature.