Shell of a rescue: Firefighters free tortoise caught in hole

A large tortoise trapped inside a hole for several days in Southern California has been rescued by firefighters.

Officials say a woman called for help to free her 25-year-old sulcata tortoise named Bentley. The reptile had been stuck underground without food and water in the Mojave area.

Video of the rescue shared Sunday by the Kern County Fire Department shows firefighters cutting through roots and digging out dirt.

Eventually the tortoise was able to walk out on its own.

Sulcata tortoises are native to Africa and can weigh up to 230 pounds (105 kilograms) and live 70 years.

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