MARATHON, Florida Keys -- Five green sea turtles traveled almost 4,700 miles from their home in the Florida Keys to a marine park in England Wednesday.

The reptiles convalesced at the Florida Keys- based Turtle Hospital, some as long as 10 years, due to spinal chord injuries sustained from accidental boat strikes off several Florida communities.

The hospital’s ambulance transported the adolescent turtles to Miami International Airport where they were loaded aboard a late Wednesday afternoon trans-Atlantic flight.

After arriving at London Heathrow on Thursday, they are to be examined and then transferred to the Weymouth Sea Life Park in Dorset.

Because of their injuries, the animals must remain under human care to survive and are unable to be released, because they cannot dive to catch food or escape predators.

Weymouth is receiving the reptiles to educate their visitors about sea turtles.

Turtle Hospital founder Richie Moretti and hospital administrator Ryan Butts accompanied the turtles to England.

Courtesy of fla-keys.com