STUART, FL--Under the Roosevelt bridge and next to the Intracoastal Waterway, the Pelican Cafe is normally a quiet place to grab a bite. But not on Monday afternoon.
"A couple of my fellow coworkers walked outside 'cause they saw onlookers out by the pier," said Lisa Stukel, a chef at the Pelican Cafe.
Stukel went outside as well, and what she saw was a manatee trapped in a net, and struggling.
"It kept bringing its head up out of water trying to get air. But the net was up over its face, so it was panicking pretty much," she said.
The owner of the Pelican Cafe called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Manatee Hot Line, while Lisa grabbed a friend's pocket knife and ran down into the water.
"Well I kind of touched it I guess, but I just liked grabbed the net on one side, and I pulled it and then I cut the fishing string, like the main ties that pull the cast net," said Stukel.
Suddenly the manatee was free.
"And then it just kind of sat there, and drifted for a little bit, and then took off," said Stukel.
So the question is did Lisa do the right thing? Well, maybe humanely yes, but legally no.
"Technically because they are an endangered species, technically that is against the law to touch that animal in any way," said John Cassady, of the Fish & Wildlife Research Staff, Manatee Section.
But laws aside, he understands that Lisa was doing what she thought was right.
"We appreciate that. We really like the fact that she did go out there and go out of her way, and risk her own life and injury to go out there and help that animal. So we appreciate that," said Cassady.
Fish and Wildlife's main concern is that an injured manatee that is set free could die of its injuries later, plus it could have thrashed and seriously injured Lisa. So would she do it again if she had to?
"Probably. I'd have to right? You can't just watch it suffer," said Stukel.
And if you're wondering if she basked in her heroic glory when she climbed out of the water, the answer is no!
"I just came back in and went back to my normal routine. Nothing really, nothing big," said Stukel.
Maybe not big to her, but it surely was to the manatee.
