Stunning images show the first time that a disabled sea turtle was able to swim after being fitted with a prosthetic flipper.

Rocky, a green sea turtle estimated to be around 25 to 30 years old, has struggled to swim for the majority of his life after he was hit by a boat at an early age, losing his front right flipper and suffering shell damage. Due to the endangered status of the species, the federal government in Florida deemed Rocky unfit to be released into the wild, so he was rescued by an aquarium in 2001. He had been using a life jacket style device to help him float (seriously, how cute can you get?), but he could not really swim – until the aquarium contacted prosthetist, Kevin Carroll.

Heartwarming footage below shows Rocky the sea turtle being released into the water at Key West Aquarium in Florida for the first time after being fitted with the flipper.