A turtle in Central China's Henan Province has literally been given a new lease of life after it was left outside on a freezing cold winter night by its owner. Believing it to be dead from the cold, the owner attempted to cook it as a meal, bringing it back to life in minutes after putting it in a pot of boiling water. Photo: screenshot of Feidian Video on Sina Weibo.

A turtle in Central China's Henan Province has literally been given a new lease of life after it was left outside on a freezing cold winter night by its owner. Believing it to be dead from the cold, the owner attempted to cook it as a meal, bringing it back to life in minutes after putting it in a pot of boiling water.  

The turtle's owner, surnamed Xiong, has raised it for seven years. She took the turtle out on Thursday afternoon to get some sun, but later forgot to bring it back inside. When Xiong realized her mistake the next morning, she hurried to check on her pet, only to find it stiff as a rock, with its limbs stretching out of its shell, media reported Monday. 

"I never thought the night I had left it outside would be the coldest night in decades, at a temperature of -17 C… I tried warming it up with a hair dryer, and tried some other methods as well, but it seemed like the turtle had gone," said Xiong. 

Heartbroken, she decided to cook it in its memory. To her surprise, the turtle returned to life minutes after it was plunged into a pot of boiling water. 

Global Times