BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Fifteen young sea turtles were given a new lease on life after they were left stranded on the Space Coast by red tide. One by one, the green turtles were released back into the Atlantic, set free Wednesday by volunteers who helped nurse them back to health.

The turtles all ended up stranded on beaches in Brevard County in December. Tests revealed the turtles were all suffering from ailments due to red tide algae, which had bloomed off the coast of Brevard County.

The people who rescued them said seeing them healthy enough to be set free was an extraordinary feeling.

"Now he is so strong, it was just flipping its flippers, and I felt it was ready to go back and I was very happy to be there," said Iris Reinhold, Sea Turtle Preservation Society.

The 15 released Wednesday were treated at a number of facilities across Central Florida. Twelve more turtles have yet to be released, but workers said they were able to rehabilitate every turtle rescued in December.