A sea turtle that was rescued from frigid north-west waters and treated at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is catching a ride back to California on a coast guard training flight.

The aquarium says the endangered olive ridley turtle named Solstice is being airlifted on Tuesday on a coast guard C-130 and will complete her rehabilitation at SeaWorld in San Diego.

Solstice was dehydrated with a body temperature 15F below normal when she was found 21 December on Long Beach peninsula in south-west Washington.

With the approval of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Solstice will be released this summer in warmer waters where turtles typically range.

At least five other turtles caught in cold currents this winter were stranded and died on the coast of Washington and Oregon.