But today Allison, the green sea turtle with only one flipper, was back on the right track thanks to a prosthetic fin.

Scientists kitted out the 5-year-old turtle in a black wetsuit complete with a dorsal fin on the back to help her glide along gracefully with other turtles.

Little Allison, who was brought in to a rehabilitating centre for turtles in 2005, was found painstakingly swimming in tight circles in the sea after losing her fin in a suspected shark attack.

Staff initially feared the turtle wouldn't survive as she would struggle to find food and swim to the surface for air, but she recovered well from her injuries and soon wormed her way into the hearts of the rescuers.

Workers at Sea Turtle Inc - a Texan non-profit group that rehabilitates sea turtles - searched desperately for a way to help the circling turtle, whose life expectancy is a staggering 150 years.