Blue Planet Live: Seagull appears to eat baby turtle that BBC presenters were meant to be helping into sea, as millions watch live

© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited BBC One TV viewers have expressed their shock after watching a seagull swoop down unexpectedly to eat a baby turtle live on air.

Sunday night’s episode of Blue Planet Live focused on six protected baby turtles as they were released back into the sea on Australia’s Heron Island.

Yet fans of the programme watched in horror as a seagull landed on the beach behind presenter Liz Bonnin. The bird appeared to walk quickly away with one of the tiny turtles trapped in its beak.

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Viewers shared their astonishment at the attack on Twitter.

ITV’s Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid tweeted: “Blue Planet Live releases baby turtles on the beach. Seagull steals one for dinner.”

Ed Short wrote: “Just when you’re trying to sign off on an excellent Blue Planet series a seagull grabs his lunch.”

BBC broadcaster Jen Bartram also shared her dismay. “BLUE PLANET LIVE I CANNOT DEAL WITH SEEING A BABY TURTLE RELEASED INTO THE JAWS OF A SEAGULL.”

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Another viewer, Samantha Ritchie, tweeted: “Can we just talk about what happened to the baby turtle on blue planet live. That seagull is a terror.”

Ms Bonnin was attempting to end the show when the seagull nabbed the turtle.

“This is our blue planet to fiercely protect through our actions and through making our voices heard,” she said. “So we hope we’ve inspired you to grab that responsibility with both hands.”

Blue Planet Live, first broadcast earlier this month, explores marine life and the health of the Earth’s oceans.