Andre, an endangered green turtle, was finally released back into the Atlantic Ocean off Florida's coast on Wednesday following months of intensive care to save his life after apparently being hit by a boat’s propeller.

When the turtle was found in June 2010, he had a collapsed lung and gashes so wide that a crab had slipped into one.

The torn shell of Andre, named after U. S. wrestling champion Andre the Giant, was fixed with pigskin, silicone and teeth braces by vets at Loggerhead Marinelife Centre.

Orthodontist Alberto Vargas, who reshaped the turtle’s 171-pound shell, said the sea creature was of the strangest patient he had ever taken care of.

As many as 500 people showed up to see off Andre into the Atlantic Ocean. One of the attendees, 15-year-old Cristina Martinez said, “It's inspiring to see that a sea turtle can keep on fighting for its life”

Several hundred sick, injured or dead turtles are found on the beaches of Florida every year because sudden changes in water temperature, or sometimes because they run-in with speedboats, or entangle in fishing nets.