A loggerhead turtle that underwent a three-and-a-half-hour operation to remove a large rusting hook from her trachea is making a steady recovery.

The turtle, who has been named Daisy by the hospital surgeons who helped save her life, has been moved into a larger tank at the aquarium to continue her rehabilitation.

Yesterday, the 60kg creature was given antibiotics to prevent infection and remained under constant supervision for the entire day. “The turtle received antibiotics yesterday delivered intramuscularly and also hydrating fluids delivered subcutaneously,” said Ian Walker, curator of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

“Her breathing is much improved with no inspiratory or expiratory sounds that had been so obvious before. We moved her to a larger pool and are continuing to offer various food items to encourage her to eat.

“She is being monitored continuously by husbandry and veterinary staff.”

The loggerhead turtle was rescued by free divers Shaun Holland and Aaron Bean off the North Shore on December 30 and brought to the aquarium.

Scans conducted at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital the next day revealed a hook deep in the turtle’s trachea that had caused her left lung to hyperinflate and right lung to partially collapse.

On Tuesday evening surgeon Boris Vestweber, anaesthetist Andrew Spence, surgical nurse, Andrew Westhead and Dr Walker performed an emergency tracheotomy to remove the hook before then repairing both tissue and skin damage caused by the incision.